LBM, garden sales decline in October

OTTAWA — Retail sales increased 0.3% to $51 billion in October, according to the latest StatCan data. Higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations were the main contributors to the gain. Excluding these two sub-sectors, retail sales declined 0.4%. Sales of building materials and garden equipment edged down 0.9% from September and 3.1% from last October.