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October 2013 - Retail

According to Statistics Canada, retails sales rose 2.8% from the second quarter of 2012 to $126.3 billion in the second quarter of 2013 - the largest year-over-year gain since the first quarter of 2012. Higher sales were reported in seven out of ten major commodity groups.

Sales of motor vehicles, parts and services were the largest contributor to the increase, rising a tenth (8.8%). Sales of new trucks, vans, minivans and sport utility vehicles (+18.8%) registered their largest gain in three years. The New Motor Vehicles Sales Survey reported one tenth (9%) increase in the volume of trucks sold in the second quarter. Sales were also up for used vehicles (+5.6%) and automotive parts (+4.5%).

Receipts for food and beverages rose 1.5%. Most of the increase came from higher food sales (+2.2%), largely because of a price-included 5.9% rise for fresh fruits and vegetables.

Health and personal care products sales increased 2.9% - the largest gain since the fourth quarter of 2011. The growth in the second quarter for prescription drugs (+2.4%) more than offset the decline over the previous four quarters.

Sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives fell 1.0%, as consumer prices for gasoline decreased 1.1% over the same period.

Sporting and leisure goods were down 2.9%. A 14.1% decrease in the sales of toys, games and hobby supplies accounted for most of the decline – sales of these products tend to be affected by the timing of new product releases.

Furniture, home furnishings and electronic sales fell by 0.4% with the decline in the home electronics, computers and cameras (-4.0%) offsetting increases in housing appliances (+6.3%) and indoor furniture (+2.1%).

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