Retail sales in Canada fell 3.4 percent month-over-month in December of 2020, the first decline since a record 24.8% slump in April and worse than market forecasts of a 2.5 percent decline. With the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Canada, provincial governments began to reintroduce physical distancing measures, which directly affected the retail sector. Approximately 15 percent of retailers were closed during December. Core retail sales which exclude sales by gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers were down 4.6 percent. Canadian retailers finished 2020 with $606 billion in sales, down 1.4% from 2019. This was the largest annual decline since the 2009 recession. Preliminary figures for January suggest retail sales went down 3.3 percent. source: Statistics Canada

Retail Sales MoM in Canada averaged 0.38 percent from 1991 until 2020, reaching an all time high of 22.20 percent in June of 2020 and a record low of -24.80 percent in April of 2020. This page provides - Canada Retail Sales MoM - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Canada Retail Sales MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on March of 2021.

Retail Sales MoM in Canada is expected to be 0.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. Looking forward, we estimate Retail Sales MoM in Canada to stand at 0.40 in 12 months time. In the long-term, the Canada Retail Sales MoM is projected to trend around 0.40 percent in 2022 and 0.30 percent in 2023, according to our econometric models.

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Canada Retail Sales MoM

Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
-3.40 1.30 22.20 -24.80 1991 - 2020 percent Monthly


Calendar GMT Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2020-11-20 01:30 PM Sep 1.1% 0.5% 0.2% 0%
2020-12-18 01:30 PM Oct 0.4% 1.1% 0.2% 0.3%
2021-01-22 01:30 PM Nov 1.3% 0.4% 0.1% 0.1%
2021-02-19 01:30 PM Dec -3.4% 1.3% -2.5% -2.6%
2021-03-19 12:30 PM Jan -3.4% -3.3%
2021-04-28 12:30 PM Feb
2021-05-21 12:30 PM Mar
2021-06-23 12:30 PM Apr
Go to our Calendar for more events. Or learn more about the Calendar API for direct access.


News Stream
Canada Retail Sales Fall More than Expected
Retail sales in Canada fell 3.4 percent month-over-month in December of 2020, the first decline since a record 24.8% slump in April and worse than market forecasts of a 2.5 percent decline. With the resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Canada, provincial governments began to reintroduce physical distancing measures, which directly affected the retail sector. Approximately 15 percent of retailers were closed during December. Core retail sales which exclude sales by gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers were down 4.6 percent. Canadian retailers finished 2020 with $606 billion in sales, down 1.4% from 2019. This was the largest annual decline since the 2009 recession. Preliminary figures for January suggest retail sales went down 3.3 percent.
2021-02-19
Canada Retail Sales Surprise on the Upside
Retail sales in Canada jumped 1.3 percent month-over-month in November of 2020, beating market forecasts of 0.1 percent. It is the 7th consecutive monthly gain, led by higher sales at food and beverage stores (5.9 percent), along with an uptick in e-commerce sales (2.7 percent). On the other hand, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers (-0.9 percent) declined for the first time since April. Core retail sales which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 2.6 percent. Advance estimates for December showed retail sales declined 2.6 percent.
2021-01-22
Canada Retail Sales Rise More than Expected
Retail sales in Canada edged up 0.4 percent from the previous month in October 2020, the sixth consecutive monthly increase since the record decline in April and compared with market expectations of a 0.2 percent growth. Sales increased at all four store types within motor vehicle and parts dealers (1.5 percent), led by new car dealers (0.8 percent). Trade was also up at sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (11.8 percent), furniture and home furnishings stores (6.6 percent), as well as building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (2.9 percent). Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, edged up 0.3 percent in October following a 2.1 percent increase in September.
2020-12-18
Canada Retail Sales Rise More than Expected
Retail sales in Canada rose 1.1 percent over a month earlier in September 2020, following an upwardly revised 0.5 percent gain in the previous month and beating market expectations of a 0.2 percent increase. It was the fifth successive monthly rise in retail trade, boosted by sales at general merchandise (1.8 percent) and food & beverages (0.9 percent) stores, partially due to higher prices for meat, fish and dairy products. Also, sales at furniture and home furnishings stores rebounded (4.5 percent vs -2 percent in August) and sales at motor vehicle & parts advanced for the fifth straight month (1.5 percent). Year-on-year, retail trade went up 4.6 percent. Considering the third quarter as a whole, retail sales jumped 22.6 percent compared with the previous quarter. Statistics Canada also provided an advance estimate of October’s retail trade, which suggests that sales were relatively unchanged.
2020-11-20

Canada Retail Sales MoM
In Canada, the Retail sales report provides an aggregated measure of sales of retail goods and services over a specific time period. In Canada, Retail sales are seasonal, volatile and relatively important to the overall economy.