OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 1.4 per cent to $66.4 billion in January, helped by gains at motor vehicle and parts dealers as well as gas stations.
The result topped the agency’s initial estimate for the month that suggested a gain of 0.7 per cent for the first month of 2023.
However, Statistics Canada says its initial estimate for February suggests a decline of 0.6 per cent for the month, though it cautions that the figure will be revised.
For January, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers gained 3.0 per cent, led by higher sales at new car dealers which rose 3.0 per cent. Meanwhile, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors increased 2.9 per cent as sales in volume terms fell, but gasoline prices rose.
Core retail sales — which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers — rose 0.5 per cent for the month.
In volume terms, retail sales rose 1.5 per cent in January.