Canada: sales of retail trade 2012-2022
Retail in Canada
The Canadian retail trade industry constantly grew between 2012 and 2019. In that year retail trade sales increased by 1.6 percent from 2018. In 2020, however, sales decreased by nearly 1.5 percent amidst the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic.
Motor vehicle and parts dealers retail sales declined nearly nine percent in 2020, while new car dealers, which accounted for about 20 percent of total retail sales, declined nearly 12 percent. In contrast, retail sales in other sectors such as supermarkets, and building material and garden equipment suppliers were impacted positively in 2020. Sales at supermarkets and other grocery stores increased nearly 12 percent as they were essential at the start of the pandemic. On the other hand, with consumers spending more time at home, sales at building material and garden equipment suppliers grew significantly. The year-over-year change was around 11 percent in 2020, but the month-over-month change increased by nearly 20 percent in December 2020 against December 2019.