Statistics Canada said retail sales in Canada rose 1.2% to $74.6 billion in August 2026, with increases recorded across all nine retail subsectors tracked in the survey. Motor vehicle and parts dealers posted the largest gain, also up 1.2%; gasoline stations rose 1.7%; and food and beverage retailers increased 1.1%, their first gain in three months, the agency said.
Core retail sales, a measure that excludes gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, rose 1.1% in August. In volume terms, which adjust the dollar figures for price changes, sales were also up 1.2%, indicating the increase reflected a rise in the quantity of goods sold rather than price alone.
Provincial results varied. Ontario led with a 2.2% increase to $28.5 billion in retail sales, and British Columbia followed with a 2.1% increase to $10.0 billion. Sales declined in six provinces and territories — Newfoundland and Labrador, Prince Edward Island, New Brunswick, Alberta, Yukon and Nunavut — by between 0.1% and 0.6%, the agency said. E-commerce sales totalled $5.6 billion in August, up 1.1% from July and accounting for 7.6% of total retail trade for the month.
Statistics Canada also published an advance estimate for September 2026, suggesting retail sales rose 0.7% for the month. The agency said the estimate is preliminary, based on a survey response rate of 58.5% compared with a historical average of 86.8%, and is subject to revision. The retail sales data are seasonally adjusted and reported in current dollars, the agency said.