Canadian retail sales rise 1.2% month on month in August as all nine subsectors gain

Statistics Canada reports retail sales in current dollars and in volume terms, which it calculates by deflating current-dollar values with consumer price indexes. In August 2026 both measures rose 1.2% from July, the agency said on 23 October 2026, with seasonally adjusted sales up in all nine subsectors and reaching C$74.6 billion. Motor vehicle and parts dealers posted the largest increase, with sales up C$229m. Within that group, new car dealers' sales rose 1.5% after falling 1.4% in July, and automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers gained 1.4%, offset by lower sales at other motor vehicle dealers (-1.4%) and used car dealers (-0.5%).

Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors rose 1.7% in value, their first increase in three months, but fell 0.5% in volume. Food and beverage retailers also posted their first increase in three months. Health and personal care retailers rose for a 10th consecutive month, and general merchandise retailers gained 1.0% after a 1.7% fall in July.