Retail trade, July 2024

Released: 2025-07-10

Retail sales increased 0.9% to $66.4 billion in July. Sales were up in seven of nine subsectors, led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—were up 0.6% in July.

In volume terms, retail sales increased 1.0% in July.

Sales up at motor vehicle and parts dealers

The largest increase in retail sales in July was observed at motor vehicle and parts dealers (+2.2%). Higher sales at new car dealers (+2.3%) led the increase, followed by other motor vehicle dealers (+5.6%). Lower sales at used car dealers (-0.8%) were offset by gains at automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers (+1.0%).

Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (-0.6%) were down in July. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors decreased 1.7%.

Core retail sales rise

Core retail sales increased 0.6% in July, posting their second consecutive monthly increase. The gain was led by higher sales at food and beverage retailers (+0.8%) and general merchandise retailers (+0.8%). Sales at food and beverage retailers were up on higher sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) (+1.2%) and, to a lesser extent, specialty food retailers (+2.1%) and convenience retailers and vending machine operators (+0.4%).

Higher sales were also reported at health and personal care retailers (+1.2%) in July.

The largest decrease in core retail sales in July came from building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (-1.4%).

Sales up in eight provinces

Retail sales increased in eight provinces in July. The largest provincial increase was observed in Quebec (+1.5%). In the census metropolitan area (CMA) of Montréal, sales were up 2.0%.

In Alberta, retail sales increased 2.0% in July, led by higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

The largest provincial decrease in retail sales in July was observed in Ontario (-0.2%). The decrease was led by lower sales at food and beverage retailers. In the CMA of Toronto, sales were down 1.2%.

Retail e-commerce sales in Canada

On a seasonally adjusted basis, retail e-commerce sales were up 3.4% to $4.1 billion in July, accounting for 6.1% of total retail trade, compared with 6.0% in June.

Advance retail indicator

Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales increased 0.5% in August. Owing to its early nature, this figure will be revised. This unofficial estimate was calculated based on responses received from 52.4% of companies surveyed. The average final response rate for the survey over the previous 12 months was 89.4%.

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Table 1 – Retail sales, by province, territory and census metropolitan area — Seasonally adjusted          
   July 2023  June 2024{r}  July 2024{p}  June to July 2024  July 2023 to July 2024
  millions of dollars millions of dollars millions of dollars % change % change
Canada 65771 65799 66381 0.9 0.9
Newfoundland and Labrador 973 1018 1012 -0.6 4
Prince Edward Island 293 290 293 1.1 -0.2
Nova Scotia 1723 1762 1791 1.6 3.9
New Brunswick 1458 1468 1481 0.9 1.6
Quebec 14834 14790 15006 1.5 1.2
Montréal 7381 7321 7466 2 1.2
Ontario 24665 24540 24485 -0.2 -0.7
Toronto 11250 11110 10979 -1.2 -2.4
Manitoba 2185 2187 2245 2.7 2.8
Saskatchewan 2070 2137 2200 3 6.3
Alberta 8339 8510 8679 2 4.1
British Columbia 8997 8861 8949 1 -0.5
Vancouver 4465 4443 4493 1.1 0.6
Yukon 105 103 101 -1.9 -4.2
Northwest Territories 77 80 82 3.1 7.1
Nunavut 51 55 56 3.1 11
           
 r  revised          
 p  preliminary          
Note(s):          
Figures may not add up to totals as a result of rounding.          
Source(s):          
Table 20-10-0056-01.          

Table 1 – Retail sales, by province, territory and census metropolitan area — Seasonally adjusted

Table 2 – Retail sales, by industry — Seasonally adjusted          
   July 2023  June 2024{r}  July 2024{p}  June to July 2024  July 2023 to July 2024
  millions of dollars millions of dollars millions of dollars % change % change
Total retail trade (current dollars) 65771 65799 66381 0.9 0.9
           
Retail e-commerce 3822 3917 4051 3.4 6
           
Total retail trade (2017 chained dollars) 56984 57655 58224 1 2.2
           
Total (current dollars) excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers 48263 48459 48660 0.4 0.8
           
Total (current dollars) excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations and fuel vendors 41898 41879 42117 0.6 0.5
           
Motor vehicle and parts dealers 17507 17340 17721 2.2 1.2
New car dealers 13731 13626 13942 2.3 1.5
Used car dealers 1361 1364 1354 -0.8 -0.5
Other motor vehicle dealers 1142 1095 1157 5.6 1.3
Automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers 1273 1254 1268 1 -0.5
           
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers 3867 3755 3703 -1.4 -4.2
           
Food and beverage retailers 12938 12861 12961 0.8 0.2
Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience) 9135 9110 9218 1.2 0.9
Convenience retailers and vending machine operators 741 705 708 0.4 -4.4
Specialty food retailers 876 903 922 2.1 5.3
Beer, wine and liquor retailers 2187 2143 2112 -1.4 -3.4
           
Furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers 3644 3535 3542 0.2 -2.8
Furniture retailers 1203 1121 1142 1.9 -5
Floor covering, window treatment and other home furnishing retailers 697 693 713 2.8 2.2
Electronics and appliances retailers 1744 1721 1687 -2 -3.2
           
General merchandise retailers 8701 8956 9030 0.8 3.8
           
Health and personal care retailers 5375 5617 5687 1.2 5.8
           
Gasoline stations and fuel vendors 6365 6580 6543 -0.6 2.8
           
Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewellery, luggage and leather goods retailers 3510 3480 3517 1.1 0.2
Clothing and clothing accessories retailers 2680 2707 2727 0.7 1.7
Shoe retailers 424 389 395 1.4 -6.9
Jewellery, luggage and leather goods retailers 406 384 396 3.2 -2.4
           
Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers 3864 3674 3675 0 -4.9
Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book retailers and news dealers 1382 1342 1335 -0.5 -3.4
Miscellaneous store retailers 2482 2332 2340 0.4 -5.7
Cannabis retailers 441 432 424 -1.8 -3.8
           
 r  revised          
 p  preliminary          
Note(s):          
Figures may not add up to totals as a result of rounding.          
Source(s):          
Tables 20-10-0056-01 and 20-10-0067-01.          

Table 2 – Retail sales, by industry — Seasonally adjusted

Table 3 – Retail sales at 2017 constant prices, by industry — Seasonally adjusted          
   July 2023  June 2024{r}  July 2024{p}  June to July 2024  July 2023 to July 2024
  millions of dollars millions of dollars millions of dollars % change % change
Total retail trade at 2017 constant prices{1} 57311 58174 58720 0.9 2.5
           
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers 42417 43345 43453 0.2 2.4
           
Total excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations and fuel vendors 37202 36960 37178 0.6 -0.1
           
Motor vehicle and parts dealers 14894 14829 15267 3 2.5
New car dealers 11558 11524 11897 3.2 2.9
Used car dealers 1168 1236 1233 -0.2 5.6
Other motor vehicle dealers 1126 1069 1128 5.5 0.2
Automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers 1042 1000 1009 0.9 -3.2
           
Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers 3788 3789 3775 -0.4 -0.3
           
Food and beverage retailers 10387 10068 10097 0.3 -2.8
Supermarkets and other grocery retailers (except convenience retailers) 7296 7149 7197 0.7 -1.4
Convenience retailers and vending machine operators 562 558 558 0 -0.7
Specialty food retailers 717 643 652 1.4 -9.1
Beer, wine and liquor retailers 1811 1719 1691 -1.6 -6.6
           
Furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers 3542 3658 3678 0.5 3.8
Furniture retailers 1027 1084 1109 2.3 8
Floor covering, window treatment and other home furnishing retailers 642 651 663 1.8 3.3
Electronics and appliances retailers 1873 1924 1906 -0.9 1.8
           
General merchandise retailers 7370 7685 7795 1.4 5.8
           
Health and personal care retailers 5117 5257 5323 1.3 4
           
Gasoline stations and fuel vendors 5215 6385 6275 -1.7 20.3
           
Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewellery, luggage and leather goods retailers 3447 3523 3559 1 3.2
Clothing and clothing accessories retailers 2696 2806 2830 0.9 5
Shoe retailers 421 408 414 1.5 -1.7
Jewellery, luggage and leather goods retailers 331 308 315 2.3 -4.8
           
Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book and miscellaneous retailers 3551 2979 2951 -0.9 -16.9
Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument and book retailers and news dealers 1282 1251 1240 -0.9 -3.3
Miscellaneous store retailers 2268 1728 1711 -1 -24.6
Cannabis retailers 555 540 530 -1.9 -4.5
           
 r  revised          
 p  preliminary          
1. Calculated using the Laspeyres method.          
Note(s):          
Figures may not add up to totals as a result of rounding.          
Source(s):          
Table 20-10-0067-01.          

Table 3 – Retail sales at 2017 constant prices, by industry — Seasonally adjusted

Note to readers

All data in this release are seasonally adjusted and expressed in current dollars, unless otherwise noted.

Seasonally adjusted data are data that have been modified to eliminate the effect of seasonal and calendar influences to allow for more meaningful comparisons of economic conditions from period to period. For more information on seasonal adjustment, see Seasonally adjusted data – Frequently asked questions.

The percentage change for the advance estimate of retail sales is calculated using seasonally adjusted data and is expressed in current dollars.

This early indicator is a special unofficial estimate being provided to offer Canadians timely information on the retail sector. The data sources and methodology used are the same as those outlined on the Monthly Retail Trade Survey information page.

Trend-cycle estimates are included in selected charts as a complement to the seasonally adjusted series. These data represent a smoothed version of the seasonally adjusted time series and provide information on longer-term movements, including changes in direction underlying the series. For information on trend-cycle data, see Trend-cycle estimates – Frequently asked questions.

Both seasonally adjusted data and trend-cycle estimates are subject to revision as additional observations become available. These revisions could be extensive and could even lead to a reversal of movement, especially for the reference months near the end of the series or during periods of economic disruption.

Some common e-commerce transactions, such as travel and accommodation bookings, ticket purchases and financial transactions, are not included in Canadian retail sales figures.

Total retail sales expressed in volume terms are calculated by deflating current-dollar values using consumer price indexes.

Find more statistics on retail trade.

Next release

Data on retail trade for August will be released on October 25.

Contact Us

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