LBM, garden sales drive core retail growth

OTTAWA — Retail sales rose 0.4 percent to $53.2 billion in August, StatCan reports, marking the fourth consecutive monthly increase since the record decline in April. Core retail sales—which exclude automotive and gasoline categories—also rose 0.4% on higher sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (up 4.5 percent) and food and beverage stores. Sales were up in seven provinces, with three remaining below pre-pandemic sales levels.