2026.04.2412:37:20UTC+00Canada Retail Sales to Rise for 3rd Month

Retail sales in Canada are projected to have risen 0.6% month over month in March 2026, according to a preliminary estimate. If confirmed, this would represent the third consecutive monthly increase in retail activity.

In February, retail sales grew 0.7%, moderating from an initial estimate of a 0.9% rise, with gains recorded in seven of nine subsectors. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers advanced 1.0%, driven primarily by a 0.7% increase at new car dealers, followed by a 4.0% jump at used car dealers. Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors were unchanged in February.

Core retail sales, which exclude certain volatile categories, increased 0.6% in February, marking a second consecutive monthly gain. The advance was led by higher sales at general merchandise retailers (+1.2%) and food and beverage retailers (+0.9%). Sales also rose at clothing, clothing accessories, footwear, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (+1.1%). The largest decline was recorded at building material and garden equipment retailers, where sales fell 0.6%.