LBM, garden sales drive core retail growth

Retail sales were flat in March, according to new StatCan data. Sales were up in 10 of 11 subsectors, led by gasoline stations, where sales rose by 7.4 percent. Lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers erased the gains observed in the remaining subsectors. Core retail sales, which exclude the gasoline and automotive subsectors, increased by 1.5 percent in March. LBM and garden supplies led that gain with an increase of 3.7 percent.