Canadian Retail Sales - October 22, 2015

Canadian retail sales rose for a fourth consecutive month, increasing 0.5 per cent in August. On a year-over-year basis, sales were up 2.8 per cent. However, sales were higher in only 4 of 11 retail sub-sectors with strong sales of motor vehicles continuing to account for a large share of gains.  Stripping out sales of motor vehicles, retail sales were essentially flat.  In BC, retail sales were up 1.4 per cent on a monthly basis and 7 per cent compared to August 2014. Year-to-date, retail sales in the province are up 7.2 per cent over last year. 

Given today's data release, Canadian real GDP is currently tracking at between 2.5 and 3 per cent in the third quarter, a significant bounce-back following two quarters of modest decline in the economy. 

Time will tell in the coming months what the change in Goverment will mean to the economy moving forward.