Statistics Canada says retail sales in April posted their largest drop since April last year at the start of the pandemic as governments moved to deal with its third wave.
The agency says retail sales fell 5.7 per cent to $54.8 billion in April.
Statistics Canada says the drop in sales was concentrated in retailers deemed “non-essential” as sales fell in nine of 11 subsectors.
Core retail sales – which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers – fell 7.6 per cent.
Sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores plunged 28.6 per cent in April, while general merchandise stores dropped 8.1 per cent.
Retail sales in volume terms fell 5.6 per cent in April.
© 2021 The Canadian Press
