Retail sales rose in September for fifth consecutive month

Retail sales climbed more than expected in September to mark the fifth consecutive monthly increase since the record drop in April due to the pandemic, but economists warned that rising Covid-19 cases and looming restrictions could mean weakness ahead.

Statistics Canada said Friday that retail sales rose 1.1% to $53.9 billion in September, topping the 0.2% increase that economists on average had been expecting, according to financial data firm Refinitiv

“Today’s release was a nice surprise, but with Covid-19 situation deteriorating rapidly across much of the country since September, further good news will likely be on hold for now,” TD Bank economist Ksenia Bushmeneva wrote in a report.

“Tighter new restrictions in Manitoba and potentially a second lockdown in some of the hard-hit areas in Ontario does not bode well for in-store spending heading into a busy holiday season.”

Government officials have warned that the spread of Covid-19 is accelerating and urged Canadians to reduce their personal contacts in an effort to help slow the pandemic.

Statistics Canada said its early estimate for October suggests retail sales for the month were relatively unchanged, but noted it was a preliminary figure and would be revised.

“Given the increasing Covid-driven regional restrictions in recent weeks, November and December could see some weakness,” wrote Benjamin Reitzes, director, Canadian rates and macro strategist at the Bank of Montreal.

Statistics Canada said retail sales were up in nine of the 11 subsectors in September with core retail sales _ which excludes gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers _ rose 1.1%.

Sales at general merchandise stores climbed 1.8%, while sales at food and beverage stores rose 0.9%, partially due to higher prices for meat, fish and dairy products. Retail sales at furniture and home furnishings stores added 4.5%.

Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 1.5% in September, while sales at gasoline stations increased 0.2%.

In volume terms, retail sales were up 1.1% in September.

In a Friday release, CIBC senior economist Royce Mendes said, “The nascent second wave of Covid cases wasn’t enough to restrain retail sales in September.”

However, he warned, “That might have represented one last hurrah for the industry before the reality of the second wave sets in. Indeed, the statistical agency said that retail sales were unchanged in October after already hearing from roughly 50% of the companies in the survey.”

A report from Scotiabank had a similar tone, noting that even while retail sales expanded briskly in September, that acceleration ” is unlikely to last.”

A slowdown is expected, the report said, “but given that it comes in the context of a growing virus caseload and restrictions across provinces, the expected deceleration may be a sign of more weakness to come.”

Staff, with files from The Canadian Press

The Canadian Press is a national news agency headquartered in Toronto and founded in 1917.