Statistics Canada said on Friday, 19 June ’26, that retail sales rose. 5% to USD 51.1 (CAD 73) billion in April ’26.
Sales at gasoline stations besides fuel vendors were up 5.1% for the month the agency shared. In terms of volumes, sales for the subsector rose 0.8%.
Meanwhile, sales at motor vehicle parts dealers were up 1.7% as sales at new car dealers rose 1.8%. Meanwhile, used car dealers reflected a 5.1% climb.
Overall retail sales in volume terms were unchanged during April, said Statistics Canada. During March ’26, retail sales volumes fell 0.7%.
BMO senior economist Shelly Kaushik, in a note to clients, said that sales volumes were little changed in the month after a slump during March ’26. This was due to higher gas prices, which took a bite out of spending.
Overall, StatsCan said that sales were higher in 5 of the 9 subsectors it tracks.
Core retail sales exclude gas stations besides fuel vendors along with motor vehicle & parts dealers. This fell 0.7% during April ’26. Sales at food & beverage retailers also dropped 2%. General merchandise retailers lost 1.7%.
According to StatsCan, signs of restrained discretionary spending were also visible. This was in sporting goods, hobbies, and books besides the musical instruments category, which fell 1.5%.
Senior economist at CIBC, Andrew Grantham, said that retail sales data is further evidence that high gas prices were cutting into households’ ability to spend in other areas over the spring.
Grantham added that softness in household spending makes it harder for enterprises to pass through cost increases to consumers. He added that it’s therefore less likely that the prior spike in crude oil prices may translate into more broad-based inflationary pressures.
Grantham further added that it’s one of the reasons why he expects the Bank of Canada (BoC) to retain interest rates on hold throughout ’26.
