Statistics Canada Says Retail Sales Down 0.2% in March at $66.4 Billion

Statistics Canada says retail sales fell 0.2 percent to $66.4 billion in March, weighed down by lower sales at furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers. However, the agency says its early estimate for April says retail sales increased 0.7 percent for that month. Statistics Canada says the drop for March came as core retail sales—which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers—fell 0.6 percent in March. Sales were down in seven of nine subsectors as sales at furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers fell 1.6 percent. Sales at clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods stores also dropped 1.6 percent....