OTTAWA - Weak sales in Ontario virtually offset sales gains in eight provinces, leaving retail sales in Canada virtually unchanged in October.
Statistics Canada reports sales edged up 0.1 per cent to about $34.5 billion, continuing a trend toward stagnation in recent months.
The 0.5 per cent decline in Ontario retail sales, which represents about 35 per cent of all retail sales in Canada, cooled off October's retail trade performance.
This decline was primarily due to sales declines at general merchandise stores and used and recreational motor vehicles and parts dealers.
This is the fourth decline in Ontario retail sales in the last five months.
Excluding Ontario's sales, retail sales in Canada would have risen 0.5 per cent.
Once price changes are taken into account, retail sales in constant dollars rose 0.5 per cent in October, indicating that there was an increase in the volume of sales.
