Sagging auto sales drag down April retail activity

from CBC News - CBC News, June 19th, 2009

Retail sales in Canada in April fell 0.8 per cent to $33.5 billion, the first drop in three months, according to figures released Friday by Statistics Canada.

A 1.9 per cent drop in sales in the beleaguered automotive sector was a significant contributor to the decline.

Sales at new car dealers fell 1.8 per cent, a drop that Statistics Canada attributes to "lower values of new motor vehicles sold, as unit sales were essentially unchanged from March."

Sales at dealers who sold auto parts and used and recreational vehicles fell 2.4 per cent, the sixth consecutive monthly decline. Sales at gasoline stations fell 1.9 per cent.

Food and beverage sales, meanwhile, fell one per cent compared to March.

The food and automotive sectors alone represent almost 60 per cent of total retail sales in Canada.