Canadian retail sales unexpectedly declined in February as new car dealerships were quiet, official data showed Tuesday.
Retail sales edged down 0.2 percent to C$38.9 billion in February, nearly wiping up the gain in January, according to figures from Statistics Canada. Economists expected retail sales to creep up 0.1 percent.
Stripping out auto sales, retail sales were up 0.5 percent.
After a strong January, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers fell 2.4 percent. Grocery stores sales registered a second consecutive monthly decline, edging down 0.2 percent.
On the other hand, sales at gasoline stations rose 1.7 percent in February, reflecting higher prices at the pump.
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June 05, 2026 16:18 ET A busy week for economic news flow saw a slew of reports being released that reflected the trends in the U.S. labor market. In Europe, economic growth and inflation data gained attention as the European Central Bank and Bank of England head for policy session later in the month. In Asia, the monetary policy session of the Indian central bank was in focus as the country, a major oil importer, reels under the pressures of a weaker rupee and rising inflation.