Statistics Canada reports retail sales up 1.5% in June at $70.2 billion

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 1.5% to $70.2 billion in June, helped by increased spending at food and beverage retailers.

However, the agency says its preliminary estimate for July pointed to a 0.8% drop in retail sales for that month, though it cautioned the figure would be revised.

Retail sales in June were up in all nine subsectors tracked by Statistics Canada with sales at food and beverage retailers up 2.3%.

Sales at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers gained 5.1% in June, while general merchandise retailers rose 1.6%.

Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, gained 1.9% in June.

In volume terms, retail sales rose 1.5%.