LBM, garden equipment sales rebound in June

OTTAWA — Retail sales remained flat in June overall as lower auto and gasoline sales dragged down stronger performance across most segments, StatCan reports. Excluding those two subsectors, sales rose 1.7%. Sales at building material and garden equipment dealers, which took a hit from inclement weather in May, bounced back with a 6% surge. Retail sales decreased in four provinces, more than offsetting gains across the rest of the country.