Retail sales rose 0.4% to $53.2 billion in August—the fourth consecutive monthly increase since the record decline in April. Core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers—rose 0.4% on higher sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers and food and beverage stores. Retail sales in volume terms were up 0.5% in August. Given the rapidly evolving economic situation, Statistics Canada is providing an advance estimate of retail sales, which suggests that sales were relatively unchanged in September. Owing to its preliminary nature, this figure will be ... (full story)