Another boost in retail sales across Canada in June, according to Statistics Canada.
New figures released Friday showed retail sales increased by 1.1 per cent to $63.1 billion.
“Sales were up in 8 of 11 subsectors, representing 76.8% of retail trade,” StatCan said in the report.
Leading the increase in June were higher sales at gasoline stations, which were up by 3.9 per cent.
It came as the price for gasoline increased by 6.2 per cent compared to the previous month.
Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers were also up in June by 1.8 per cent.
That increase was largely due to higher sales at new car dealers, though StatCan said higher sales were also reported at used car dealers.
Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, edged up 0.2 per cent in June.
Sales at general merchandise stores increased for a fourth consecutive month at 1.1 per cent.
Higher sales were also observed at clothing and clothing accessories stores — up by 1.8 per cent — which were led by gains in clothing stores and jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores. Shoe stores were the only store type in this subsector to decline, falling by 0.7 per cent.
Food and beverage stores observed the largest decline in core detail, falling 1.1 per cent in June. StatCan attributes the decrease to lower sales at supermarkets and other grocery stores, and at beer, wine and liquor stores.
Breaking the numbers down by province and territory, Yukon saw its retail sales increase by 9.2 per cent — the highest in the country — from 86 million to 94 million dollars.
Newfoundland and Labrador was on the other end of the scale, with sales falling by 1.7 per cent to $886 million.
Retail sales in New Brunswick remained virtually unchanged in June at $1.38 billion, Nova Scotia fell by 0.3 per cent to $1.65 million, and Prince Edward Island climbed by one per cent to $276 million.
Ontario saw retail sales increase by 1.7 per cent to nearly $24 billion.
You can view the full report from Statistics Canada by clicking here.
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