Retail sales rise 0.6% in November to $41B, StatsCan says

Retail sales rise 0.6% in November to $41B, StatsCan says

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.6 per cent in November to $41 billion, the fourth increase in five months.

The agency says the increase was largely due to higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers as well as electronics and appliance stores.

Sales rose in nine of 11 subsectors, accounting for 72 per cent of retail trade.

The agency says weather and the timing of new product releases had a greater effect on monthly sales than promotional events in November such as Black Friday.

Sales were up 1.2 per cent at motor vehicle and parts dealers, while sales at electronics and appliance stores rose 6.4 per cent.

Higher sales were reported in seven provinces in November, with British Columbia recording the largest dollar increase at 1.4 per cent increase.

Higher clothing, footwear and accessories sales contributed to a 0.4% increase in Ontario.