Retail sales in Canada are estimated to have increased 0.6% month-over-month in March 2026, according to a preliminary estimate. If confirmed, it would mark a third consecutive month of gains in retail sales. In February, retail sales were up 0.7%, below an initial estimate of a 0.9% rise, with sales up in seven of nine subsectors. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers increased 1%, led by sales at new car dealers (+0.7%), followed by used car dealers (+4.0%). Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors were unchanged in February. Meanwhile, core retail sales rose 0.6%, posting their second consecutive increase. The gain was led by higher sales at general merchandise retailers (+1.2%) and food and beverage retailers (+0.9%). Higher sales were also recorded at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (+1.1%). The largest decrease came from building material and garden equipment (-0.6%). source: Statistics Canada

Retail Sales in Canada increased 0.60 percent in March of 2026 over the previous month. Retail Sales MoM in Canada averaged 0.39 percent from 1991 until 2026, reaching an all time high of 22.20 percent in May of 2020 and a record low of -23.00 percent in April of 2020. This page provides - Canada Retail Sales MoM - actual values, historical data, forecast, chart, statistics, economic calendar and news. Canada Retail Sales MoM - data, historical chart, forecasts and calendar of releases - was last updated on April of 2026.

Retail Sales in Canada increased 0.60 percent in March of 2026 over the previous month. Retail Sales MoM in Canada is expected to be 0.50 percent by the end of this quarter, according to Trading Economics global macro models and analysts expectations. In the long-term, the Canada Retail Sales MoM is projected to trend around 0.20 percent in 2027, according to our econometric models.



Calendar GMT Reference Actual Previous Consensus TEForecast
2026-04-24 12:30 PM
Retail Sales MoM Final
Feb 0.7% 1.2% 0.9% 0.9%
2026-04-24 12:30 PM
Retail Sales MoM Prel
Mar 0.6% 0.7% 0.2%
2026-05-22 12:30 PM
Retail Sales MoM Final
Mar 0.7% 0.6%


Related Last Previous Unit Reference
Consumer Credit 813089.00 810251.00 CAD Million Feb 2026
Consumer Spending 1431258.00 1425267.00 CAD Million Dec 2025
Disposable Personal Income 1818456.00 1807932.00 CAD Million Dec 2025
Households Debt to GDP 100.78 100.58 percent of GDP Dec 2025
Households Debt to Income 174.67 174.49 percent Dec 2025
Personal Savings 4.40 5.20 percent Dec 2025
Retail Sales Ex Autos MoM 0.50 1.00 percent Feb 2026
Retail Sales MoM 0.60 0.70 percent Mar 2026
Retail Sales YoY 3.80 1.40 percent Feb 2026


Canada Retail Sales MoM
In Canada, the Retail sales report provides an aggregated measure of sales of retail goods and services over a specific time period. In Canada, Retail sales are seasonal, volatile and relatively important to the overall economy.
Actual Previous Highest Lowest Dates Unit Frequency
0.60 0.70 22.20 -23.00 1991 - 2026 percent Monthly
Current Prices, SA

News Stream
Canada Retail Sales to Rise for 3rd Month
Retail sales in Canada are estimated to have increased 0.6% month-over-month in March 2026, according to a preliminary estimate. If confirmed, it would mark a third consecutive month of gains in retail sales. In February, retail sales were up 0.7%, below an initial estimate of a 0.9% rise, with sales up in seven of nine subsectors. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers increased 1%, led by sales at new car dealers (+0.7%), followed by used car dealers (+4.0%). Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors were unchanged in February. Meanwhile, core retail sales rose 0.6%, posting their second consecutive increase. The gain was led by higher sales at general merchandise retailers (+1.2%) and food and beverage retailers (+0.9%). Higher sales were also recorded at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers (+1.1%). The largest decrease came from building material and garden equipment (-0.6%).
2026-04-24
Canadian Retail Sales Surge in Year Start
Retail sales in Canada are estimated to have increased by 0.9% from the previous month in February of 2026, according to a preliminary estimate. If confirmed, that would extend the 1.1% increase in January to C$69.7 billion, which was revised lower from the 1.5% estimate, rebounding from the 0.5% drop in the last month of 2025. Such an increase would be the largest back-to-back increase since December of 2024. Retail turnover in January was higher for general merchandise retailers (3% to C$9.4 billion), sports, hobby, musical instrument and book stores (2.6% to C$3.9 billion), health and personal care retailers (1.2% to C$5.9 billion), and building material and garden equipment suppliers (1.3% to C$3.9 billion). Motor vehicles and parts turnover, which are usually volatile, jumped by 2% to C$19.3 billion. In turn, gasoline station turnover dropped by 0.4% to C$6.7 billion). From the previous year, retail turnover rose by 1.5% in February.
2026-03-20
Canada Retail Sales Seen Rebounding in January
Canada’s retail sales are estimated to have increased 1.5% month over month in January 2026, which, if confirmed, would mark a rebound after a 0.4% decline in December and sharpest increase since December 2024 according to advance estimates. In December retail sales fell 0.4% to C$70.0 billion with sales down in three of nine subsectors led by motor vehicle and parts dealers which dropped 1.6%. Core retail sales excluding gasoline stations and motor vehicle dealers fell 0.3%. Gains in December were concentrated at gasoline stations and fuel vendors up 2.8% and at sporting goods hobby musical instrument book and miscellaneous retailers up 1.0% while building material and garden equipment and furniture home electronics retailers posted the largest declines. Retail sales fell in seven provinces with Alberta the largest decline at 2.1% while Quebec rose 0.6%. Year on year retail sales were essentially unchanged in December.
2026-02-20