Retail sales edge down in May

Retail sales slid by 0.2 percent to $66 billion in May, StatCan reports. Sales increased in five of nine subsectors and were led by hikes at motor vehicle and parts dealers, up 0.8 percent, and food and beverage retailers, which rose by one percent. In LBM and garden categories, sales were down 1.5 percent from April and 8.6 percent from the previous May. Sales increased in six provinces in May, led by higher sales in British Columbia and Alberta.