Retail sales in Canada increased 0.2% month-over-month in September of 2018, after showing no growth in the previous month and above market expectations of a 0.1% rise. Gains were seen at food and beverage stores (+0.9%), as higher sales at supermarkets and other grocery stores (+1.7%) more than offset a decline at beer, wine, and liquor stores (-1.7%), which posted their first decline after six consecutive monthly increases. Additionally, sales advanced at general merchandise stores (+1.2%) and motor vehicle and parts dealers (+0.5%), both new (+0.6%) and used (+2.9%) car dealers. On the other hand, lower sales were recorded at gasoline stations (-1.1%), down for the third time in four months, partly reflecting lower prices; building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (-1.9%) and furniture and home furnishings stores (-0.7%). Year-on-year, retail trade advanced 3.8%, following an upwardly revised 3.7% gain in August. Retail Sales MoM in Canada averaged 0.37 percent from 1991 until 2018, reaching an all time high of 3.70 percent in December of 1997 and a record low of -4.50 percent in January of 1998.