Retail sales down across the board in April

OTTAWA — Retail sales fell 26.4 percent in April to $34.7 billion, StatCan reports, and have fallen by 33.6 percent since physical distancing measures were implemented in mid-March. For the first time since May 1993, sales were down in all 11 retail subsectors. LBM and garden suppliers saw a drop of 15.7 percent from March and 10.8 percent from last April, with total sales of $2.8 million. Sales were down in every province for the second consecutive month in April, with both monthly declines largely attributable to the motor vehicle and parts dealers and food and beverage stores.