Canadian retail sales rose 0.8% MoM to $69.8 billion in March, driven by a 4.8% MoM increase at motor vehicle and parts dealers.

• Sales were up 0.9% MoM in volume terms and 1.2% QoQ in Q1 2025 (+0.2% in volume).
• Core retail sales (ex-gas and autos) increased 0.2% MoM, led by building materials and clothing/accessory stores (both +2.6% MoM), while general merchandise fell -2.7% MoM.
• Sales at gasoline stations dropped -6.5% MoM (-2.6% in volume), with gas prices down -1.6% YoY.
• Retail e-commerce sales fell -2.1% MoM to $4.2B, now 6.0% of total sales (down from 6.2%).
• Quebec saw the strongest provincial growth (+1.6%), while Manitoba posted the largest decline (-1.6%).
• The advance estimate for April suggests a further 0.5% MoM increase in retail sales.