Statistics Canada says retail sales down 0.1% at $66.1 billion in August

Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.1% to $66.1 billion in August as sales at new and used car dealers fell for the month.

The agency also says its early estimates suggest retail sales were unchanged in September, though it cautioned the reading would be revised.

For August, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers fell 0.9% as sales at new car dealers dropped 1.1% and used car dealers declined 0.5%.

Statistics Canada says core retail sales – which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers – fell 0.3% in August.

Sales at food and beverage retailers fell 1.2%, while sales at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book and miscellaneous retailers dropped 1.1%.

In volume terms, overall retail sales fell 0.7% in August.