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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

November 20, 2020
RETAIL TRADE, SEPTEMBER 2020

 

 

MONTH OVER MONTH (seasonally adjusted Sep 2020 to Aug 2020)

• Nationally, Retail Trade increased 1.1% to $53.9 billion 
• Eight provinces reported monthly increases in retail trade, with
  • Prince Edward Island (4.4%) reporting the largest gain and
  • Nova Scotia (-0.4%) reporting the largest decline

 

 

YEAR OVER YEAR (seasonally adjusted Sep 2020 vs Sep 2019)

• Nova Scotia Retail Trade increased 2.3%
• Nationally, Retail Trade increased 4.6%
• All provinces reported year-over-year increases in retail trade, with
  • New Brunswick (11.1%) reporting the largest gain
  • Ontario (1.5%) reporting the smallest gain 

YEAR TO DATE (seasonally adjusted Jan-Sep 2020 to Jan-Sep 2019)

• Nova Scotia Retail Trade decreased 4.7%
• Nationally, Retail Trade decreased 4.0%
• Only New Brunswick (0.2%) reported year-to-date increase in retail trade and
• Ontario (-5.7%) reporting the largest decline

 

 

TRENDS

Canada and Nova Scotia (2013 to 2020)

Nova Scotia's retail sales declined sharply in March (-10%) and April (-23.4%) followed by a sharp increase in May (+21.4%) and June (18.9%). Growth has been mixed in the last three months (-0.7%, +3.9%, -0.4%). Over the Feb 2020 to Sep 2020 period Nova Scotia has increased 1.8% above its pre-pandemic level.

National retail sales continued to rebound for the fifth consecutive month are now 3.1% above pre-pandemic levels.

All provincial monthly retail sales are above pre-pandemic levels. New Brunswick leads all the other provinces with a 7.7% increase above its pre-pandemic level. Ontario has gained the least (+0.4%).

 

E-COMMERCE

Canada (unadjusted, September 2020)

• In September Canada's retail e-commerce sales were up $3.2 billion, or 5.8% of total retail sales.
• On a year-over-year basis, unadjusted retail e-commerce sales increased 74.3%
• On a year-to-date basis, retail e-commerce sales increased 69.9%

 

 

 NOVA SCOTIA SECTORS

 

 

YEAR TO DATE (Unadjusted Jan-Sep 2020 to Jan-Sep 2019)

Retails sales were up for:

• Building Material increased 13.5%, or $118.1 million
• Food & Beverage increased 7.9%, or $209.8 million
• Miscellaneous Stores increased 7.2%, or $23.4 million
• General Merchandise increased 8.9%, or $122.5 million 

Retails sales were down for:

• Retail Trade decreased 4.6%, or -$558.5 million
• Motor Vehicle decreased 16.8%, or -$575.6 million
• Furniture decreased 10.6%, or -$32.2 million
• Electronics decreased 1.2%, or -$1.3 million
• Health decreased 1.0%, or -$9.0 million
• Gas Stations decreased 17.2%, or -$259.7 million
• Clothing decreased 33.0%, or -$131.0 million
• Sporting & Hobbies decreased 12.8%, or -$23.6 million

 

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

 

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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