The value of retail sales in Newfoundland and Labrador increased by 1.2% in January 2024, compared to January 2023.
The largest gains in the value of retail sales in January occurred in ‘Motor vehicle and parts dealers’ (+6.3%) and ‘General merchandise retailers’ (+7.2%). Losses occurred in in ‘Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers’ (-23.0%) and ‘Gasoline stations and fuel vendors’ (-7.7%).
Higher sales in ‘Motor vehicle and parts dealers’ (+6.3%) were in line with an increase in new motor vehicle sales, up 15.1% in January 2024. The ‘Motor vehicle and parts dealers’ category also includes used car sales, as well as parts and service labour.
At the national level, retail sales increased by 2.5% in January 2024 compared to January 2023. Retail sales declined in Saskatchewan and British Columbia, were virtually unchanged in Manitoba, and increased in every other province.
Statistics Canada’s Daily discusses retail sales on a seasonally adjusted basis. Seasonally adjusted retail sales for Newfoundland and Labrador increased by 0.5% in January 2024 compared to December 2023, and decreased by 0.3% for Canada.
| Retail Sales by Trade Group ($ Millions) | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Newfoundland and Labrador | ||||
| Jan 2023 | Jan 2024 | Actual Change | Percent Change | |
|
Motor vehicle and parts dealers1
|
208.6 | 221.8 | 13.2 | 6.3% |
| Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers | 54.5 | 42.0 | -12.6 | -23.0% |
| Food and beverage retailers | 168.8 | 171.8 | 3.0 | 1.8% |
| Furniture, home furnishings, electronics and appliances retailers | 21.0 | 22.7 | 1.7 | 8.1% |
| General merchandise retailers | 113.3 | 121.4 | 8.1 | 7.2% |
| Health and personal care retailers | 68.7 | 71.0 | 2.3 | 3.3% |
| Gasoline stations and fuel vendors | 118.2 | 109.0 | -9.1 | -7.7% |
| Clothing, clothing accessories, shoes, jewelry, luggage and leather goods retailers | 13.7 | 14.5 | 0.9 | 6.2% |
| Sporting goods, hobby, musical instrument, book, and miscellaneous retailers | 27.8 | 29.7 | 1.9 | 7.0% |
|
Total Retail Trade Sales
|
794.6 | 804.0 | 9.4 | 1.2% |
| Note: The total and change may not sum due to independent rounding.
1 The motor vehicle figure displayed here includes some used car sales, as well as parts and service labour, and may be higher than those appearing in the New Motor Vehicle Sales Bulletin. Source: Statistics Canada. Table 20-10-0056-01. |
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Statistical Reference: For the latest in retail trade statistics visit the Newfoundland & Labrador Statistics Agency site and check the release dates on Statistics Canada site.