Canadian Retail Sales - November 25, 2014

BCREA ECONOMICS NOW

Canadian retail sales rose 0.8 per cent in September, propelled by higher motor vehicle sales. Excluding

motor vehicles, retail sales were essentially flat.  Sales were higher in 5 of 11 retail sub-sectors.   In BC, retail sales were up 0.5 per cent on a monthly basis, and were 5.7 per cent higher compared to one year ago. Through the first nine months of the year, retail sales in BC are up a robust 5.7 per cent, which if sustained would mark the fastest rate of sales growth since 2007.

With the release of September retail sales data we have a fairly complete picture of growth for the third quarter. Our tracking estimate puts Canadian real GDP growth for the third quarter at a healthy 2.2 per cent, though a deceleration from 3.1 per cent in the second quarter. Growth in the BC economy is currently tracking at 2.3 per cent through September.