June retail sales topped pre pandemic levels in June, StatCan reports
Sales were up 1.3% compared with February
OTTAWA — Statistics Canada reports retail sales soared 23.7% in June to $53.0 billion, climbing above pre-pandemic levels for the first time as more parts of the country moved ahead with plans to reopen their economies.
The agency says sales were up 1.3% compared with February, the last month before broad shutdowns were ordered by public health officials to slow the spread of the COVID-19 pandemic
It added that early estimates suggest retail sales increased by 0.7% in July.
Economists on average had expected an increase of 24.5% for June, according to financial markets data firm Refinitiv.
Retail sales in June were up across all of the subsectors with the motor vehicle and parts dealers group up 53.4%.
Sales at non-essential retailers also surged higher with clothing and clothing accessories stores posting a 142.3% gain in June.
