Retail sales flat in July

OTTAWA ― Retail sales were relatively unchanged for the third consecutive month in July, StatCan reported, edging down 0.1% to $44.1 billion. Sales were down in five of 11 subsectors. Sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers rose by 1.5%, the first increase in three months. Retail sales fell in six provinces in July, while sales in British Columbia (+0.9%) and Quebec (+0.2%) were up for the third time in four months.