Retail sales increase in October

Retail sales rose by 0.7 percent in October to $66.9 billion in October, according to the latest StatCan data. Sales were up in seven of nine subsectors, led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers. LBM and garden sales edged down by 0.2 percent to $3.88 billion. Core retail sales, which exclude automotive and fuel categories, were up 1.2 percent in October.