2026.04.2412:30:00UTC+00Canada’s Core Retail Sales Growth Cools to 0.5% in February

Canada’s core retail sales growth slowed in February 2026, with the month-over-month indicator easing to 0.5%, down from 1.0% in January 2026. The latest figures, updated on 24 April 2026, point to a moderation in consumer spending momentum after a stronger start to the year.

The core retail sales metric, which compares changes month-over-month, shows that while Canadian consumers continued to increase their spending in February, they did so at a weaker pace than in the previous month. January’s 1.0% rise had marked a more robust gain compared with the month before, whereas February’s 0.5% increase suggests a more cautious retail environment heading into the spring.

This deceleration in core retail activity may be closely watched by market participants and policymakers as they assess the underlying strength of domestic demand and its implications for Canada’s broader economic trajectory in 2026.