LBM, garden sales soar in February

Retail sales in February rose 4.8 percent to $55.1 billion, according to StatCan. Sales increased in nine of 11 subsectors, led by higher sales at motor-vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations. LBM dealers and garden centres saw sales of $3.3 billion, up 3.5 percent from January and 29 percent from last February. Sales were up in six provinces in February, with Quebec and Ontario leading the gain.