Canadian retail sales, which fell in April after three straight months of growth, reversed course and rose slightly in May 2009. In current dollars, Canadian retail sales increased 1.2%, rising from $33.5 billion CAD to $34 billion CAD, reports Retailer Daily.
Sales increased in seven of eight retail sectors tracked by Statistics Canada, led by automotive sales with a 2.4% increase. Sales also rose 1.5% at pharmacies and personal care stores, 1% at building and outdoor supplies stores, 0.8% at miscellaneous retailers, 0.7% at food and beverage stores, 0.5% at furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores, and 0.4% at general merchandise stores.
Sales at clothing and accessories stores remained flat.
US retail and food service sales also climbed in May 2009, but at about half the rate of Canadian retail sales. According to advance figures from the US Census Bureau, sales for the month rose 0.5%. Adjusted for seasonal variation and holiday and trading day differences, but not for price changes, US retail and food service sales totaled $340 billion USD in May 2009, compared to $337.7 billion USD in April 2009 and $385.4 billion USD in May 2008.
