Retail sales edge down in August

OTTAWA — Retail sales edged down 0.1% to $44 billion in August. Lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, and general merchandise stores were the main contributors to the decline. Excluding these two subsectors, retail sales were up 0.2%. After removing the effects of price changes, retail sales in volume terms decreased 0.3%. After increasing 1.5% in July, sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers were down 0.5% in August. Sales were down in six provinces, with gains in Manitoba, Nova Scotia, New Brunswick, and Newfoundland & Labrador.