Retail sales in Canada increased by 2.5% to $69.6 billion in December, according to StatCan.

February 21, 2025 TruthUSA

According to Statistics Canada, retail sales increased by 2.5 percent to $69.6 billion in December, driven by growth in food and beverage retailers and motor vehicle and parts dealers.

However, the agency’s preliminary estimate for January indicates a 0.4 percent decline in retail sales for the first month of 2025.

Statistics Canada reports that December sales saw positive growth across all nine subsectors it monitors, with a 3.5 percent increase in sales at food and beverage retailers.

This growth was primarily driven by a 3.9 percent increase in sales at supermarkets and other grocery retailers (excluding convenience stores), a 3.9 percent rise in sales at beer, wine, and liquor retailers, and a 2.4 percent increase in specialty food stores.

Meanwhile, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers also saw a 1.9 percent increase in December, with new car dealers experiencing a 2.0 percent gain.

In terms of volume, retail sales in December rose by 2.5 percent.