retail sales in December posted their largest decline since the low of April due to the COVID-19 pandemic.The agency says retail sales fell 3.4 per cent to $53.4 billion in December as sales fell in nine out of 11 subsectors.Statistics Canada also says its preliminary estimate for January suggests that retail sales fell 3.3 per cent last month, but noted that the figure will be revised.
More than 200K small businesses could close permanently amid pandemic: CFIB A resurgence of COVID-19 cases in Canada prompted provincial governments to reintroduce physical distancing measures late last year that hurt the retail sector.Core retail sales – which exclude sales by gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers – fell 4.6 per cent in.