Retail sales fell by almost six per cent in April, the biggest slump in a year, as the third wave of COVID-19 across Canada closed stores and kept shoppers’ wallets tightly shut.
Statistics Canada reported Wednesday that nine of 11 retail sectors saw lower sales. The two exceptions were food and beverage stores, and miscellaneous retailers, both of which saw slight increases during the month.
So-called core retail sales — which strip out volatile items like gas station receipts and vehicle purchases — fell by even more, 7.6 per cent. That’s the second-biggest decline ever, only outstripped by the decline seen the
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