Canadian Retail Sales Up 0.6% In October, Buoyed By Vehicle Purchases

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.6 per cent to $67.6 billion in October, led by increases in vehicle sales.

Core retail sales — which exclude gasoline stations, fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers — rose 0.2 per cent.

In volume terms, retail sales were unchanged.

The agency says the automotive sector saw the largest increase sales, including 2.5 per cent increases for sales at both new and used car dealers.

Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors were down 0.5 per cent in October for a sixth consecutive month of declines.

Looking ahead, Statistics Canada says its advance estimate for November shows retail sales were relatively unchanged.