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For additional information relating to this article, please contact:

Thomas Storring	Director – Economics and Statistics
Tel: 902-424-2410	Email: thomas.storring@novascotia.ca

July 21, 2020
RETAIL TRADE, MAY 2020

 

 

In Nova Scotia May 2020, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade increased 20.17 per cent over April 2020 to $1.1 billion .  In May 2020 vs May 2019, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 14.7 per cent.

Nationally, May 2020, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade increased 18.66 per cent over April 2020 to $41.8 billion.  In May 2020 vs May 2019, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 18.4 per cent.

 

Canada and the Provinces

On a month over month basis, `increased 18.66 per cent nationally. Ten provinces reported monthly increases in retail trade, with Quebec (33.3 per cent) reporting the largest gain. Nova Scotia reported an increase (20.2 per cent) over the previous month. British Columbia reported the smallest gain (12.1 per cent).

 

Unadjusted Retail Trade (excl gasoline stations) increased 18.4 per cent nationally and increased  20.2 per cent in Nova Scotia.

 

 

On a year over year basis, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 18.4 per cent nationally. All ten provinces reported year-over-year decreases in retail trade, with Newfoundland and Labrador (4.1 per cent) reporting the smallest decline. Nova Scotia reported a decline (14.7 per cent) over the same month last year. Ontario reported the largest decline (26.4 per cent).

Unadjusted Retail Trade (excl gasoline stations) decreased 17.6 per cent nationally and decreased 13.8 per cent in Nova Scotia.

.

Nova Scotia Sectors 

Unadjusted Year-over-year (May 2020 vs May 2019), Retail Trade decreased 17.1 per cent ($253.6 million) to $1.2 million.

Nova Scotia's retails sales were up (May-20 vs May-19) for:

• Food & Beverage with a 29% share increased 14.4 per cent ($44.2 million)
• General Merchandise with a 17% share increased 24.0 per cent ($39.9 million)
• Miscellaneous Stores with a 3% share increased 4.8 per cent ($1.7 million)

In Nova Scotia  the largest declines in retail sales (May-20 vs May-19 unadjusted) were reported in 

• Motor Vehicle with a 21% share of Retail Trade decreased 41.3 per cent ($182.3 million)
• Furniture with a 2% share decreased 49.3 per cent ($18.7 million)
• Electronics with a 1% share decreased 31.2 per cent ($3.9 million)
• Building Material with a 9% share decreased 3.0 per cent ($3.5 million)
• Health with an 8% share decreased 4.3 per cent ($4.5 million)
• Gas Stations with a 9% share decreased 40.7 per cent ($75.7 million)
• Clothing with a 1% share decreased 81.7 per cent ($37.7 million)
• Sporting & Hobbies with a 1% share decreased 62.1 per cent ($13.1 million)

 

 

Canada Sectors

Nationally, declines in retail sales (May-20 vs May-19 unadjusted) were reported in 

• Clothing stores: -69.0 per cent
• Furniture stores: -41.5 per cent
• Motor vehicle/parts dealers: -40.4 per cent 
• Gas stations: -40.3 per cent
• Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores: -28.1 per cent
• Miscellaneous stores: -12.0 per cent
• Building material and garden equipment stores: -10.0 per cent
• Health and personal care stores: -8.5 per cent
• Electronics and appliance stores: -7.4 per cent

Nationally, increases in retail sales (May-20 vs May-19 unadjusted) were reported in 

• Food and beverage stores: 11.8 per cent
• General merchandise stores: 9.4 per cent

 

In Canada May 2020,

• on a month-over-month basis, unadjusted retail e-commerce sales  increased 32.4 per cent  over April 2020 to $3.8 billion, representing a 8.3% share of total retail trade. 
• On a year-over-year basis, unadjusted retail e-commerce sales increased 112.7 per cent over April 2019.

 

 

 

 

Year-over year Sectors

 

 

Cannabis stores

In Nova Scotia, May 2020, on a month-over-month basis, unadjusted retail cannabis store sales increased 4.7 per cent over April 2020 to $5.9 million and on a year-over-year basis, unadjusted retail cannabis store sales increased 10.9 per cent over May 2019.

In Canada, May 2020, on a month-over-month basis, unadjusted retail cannabis store sales increased 4.2 per cent over April 2020 to $185.9 million and on a year-over-year basis, unadjusted retail cannabis store sales increased 116.3 per cent over May 2019.

 

 

TABLES & SELECTED FIELDS

• 20-10-0072-01 Unadjusted Retail E-Commerce in Canada 
• 20-10-0008-01 Seasonally adjusted retail sales by province
• 20-10-0008-01 Unadjusted retail sales by province
• 20-10-0008-01 Nova Scotia unadjusted retail sales by NAICS sectors
• 20-10-0008-01 Unadjusted Cannabis sales by province

 

Statistics Canada Citations 

Table 20-10-0072-01 Retail E-commerce sales, unadjusted (x 1,000)

Table 20-10-0008-01 Retail trade sales by province and territory (x 1,000)

 

 

 

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