Retail sales in Canada are estimated to have fallen 0.5% month over month in December 2025, which, if confirmed, would mark the sharpest monthly decline in three months, according to advance estimates. In November however, retail sales rose 1.3%, rebounding strongly after declines in the prior two months, with gains recorded in eight of nine subsectors. Sales were led by food and beverage retailers (+3.0%), notably beer, wine and liquor retailers (+14.3%) as labour disruptions in British Columbia that had weighed on sales in October eased. Sales also increased at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewellery, luggage and leather goods retailers (+2.4%) and health and personal care retailers (+1.6%). Sales also rose at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (+2.0%). On the other hand, sales edged down at sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book and miscellaneous retailers (-0.2%). Year on year, retail sales rose 3.1% in November.
