Canadian retail sales rose for the third straight month in March, driven mainly by gains at motor vehicles and parts dealers, Statistics Canada said.
In current dollars, total retail trade rose 0.6% to a seasonally adjusted C$50.24 billion in March from the revised C$49.92 billion in the previous month. Excluding sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales slipped 0.2% to C$36.34 billion.
In annual terms, total retail sales jumped 4.1% from C$48.28 billion in March 2017.
Sales rose in six of 11 sub-sectors, which represent 53% of the retail trade. Motor vehicle and parts dealers posted the largest gain, with sales of C$13.90 billion, up 3.0% from C$13.49 billion last month.
Clothing and clothing accessories sales rose 2.5% to C$2.83 billion from C$2.76 billion, while receipts at general merchandise stores posted a 1.0% increase to C$5.76 billion from C$5.70 billion.
Sales at food and beverage stores slipped 1.2% to C$10.02 billion, while gasoline stations posted a 1.9% decline to C$5.42 billion.
Seven Canadian provinces reported sales growth in March, with Quebec and Ontario helping drive the gain.
