Overview

• Retail sales fell 1.1% to C$69.2 billion in May, marking a 1.4% decline on a volume basis.
• Motor vehicle and parts dealers led the downturn with sales down 3.6%, including a 4.6% drop at new car dealerships.
• Sales at food and beverage retailers declined 1.2% while gasoline station revenues slipped by 1.4%.
• Building material and garden equipment outlets posted a 1.9% gain, the strongest performance among major subsectors.
• A Statistics Canada survey showed 32% of retailers faced disruptions from U.S. tariffs in May, down from 36% in April.