Statistics Canada reports retail sales up 1.2% in August at $74.6 billion

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 1.2% to $74.6 billion in August, helped by higher new car sales.

The agency says sales were up in all nine of the subsectors it tracks, led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers which gained 1.2%, boosted by a 1.5% rise at new car dealers.

Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were up 1.1% for the month.

The food and beverage retailers subsector gained 1.1%, while general merchandise retailers added one per cent.

In volume terms, overall retail sales rose 1.2% in August.

Looking ahead, Statistics Canada says its advance estimate of retail sales in September suggested a gain of 0.7% for the month, though it cautioned the figure would be revised.