Retail sales rise in July

Retail sales increased 0.9 percent to $66.4 billion in July, StatCan reports. Sales were up in seven of nine subsectors, led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers. LBM and garden sales posted the largest decline in core retail sales, down 1.4 percent. Overall core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were up 0.6 percent for the month.