Canada Retail Sales Set to Rise in April

Retail sales in Canada increased 0.6% month-over-month in April 2026, according to a preliminary estimate. If confirmed, it would mark a fourth consecutive month of gains in retail sales. In March, retail sales increased 0.9%, higher than initial estimates of a 0.6% rise, led by a 12.4% jump in sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors, coinciding with higher gas prices related to the supply shock resulting from the conflict in the Middle East. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors fell 1.9% in March. Sales at automotive parts, accessories and tire retailers also increased (+2.2%).In contrast, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers fell 0.5%, with lower sales at used car dealers (-4%) leading the decline. Sales at new car dealers edged down 0.1% after recording two consecutive monthly gains.

Retail sales in Canada are estimated to have increased 0.6% month-over-month in March 2026, according to a preliminary estimate. If confirmed, it would mark a third consecutive month of gains in retail sales. In February, retail sales were up 0.7%, below an initial estimate of a 0.9% rise, with sales up in seven of nine subsectors. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers increased 1%, led by sales at new car dealers (+0.7%), followed by used car dealers (+4.0%). Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors were unchanged in February. Meanwhile, core retail sales rose 0.6%, posting their second consecutive increase. The gain was led by higher sales at general merchandise retailers (+1.2%) and food and beverage retailers (+0.9%). Higher sales were also recorded at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (+1.1%). The largest decrease came from building material and garden equipment (-0.6%).

Retail sales in Canada are estimated to have increased by 0.9% from the previous month in February of 2026, according to a preliminary estimate. If confirmed, that would extend the 1.1% increase in January to C$69.7 billion, which was revised lower from the 1.5% estimate, rebounding from the 0.5% drop in the last month of 2025. Such an increase would be the largest back-to-back increase since December of 2024. Retail turnover in January was higher for general merchandise retailers (3% to C$9.4 billion), sports, hobby, musical instrument and book stores (2.6% to C$3.9 billion), health and personal care retailers (1.2% to C$5.9 billion), and building material and garden equipment suppliers (1.3% to C$3.9 billion). Motor vehicles and parts turnover, which are usually volatile, jumped by 2% to C$19.3 billion. In turn, gasoline station turnover dropped by 0.4% to C$6.7 billion). From the previous year, retail turnover rose by 1.5% in February.