OTTAWA — Canadian retail sales edged lower in February, weighed down by lower sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors.
Statistics Canada said Wednesday retail sales fell 0.1 per cent to $66.7 billion for the month as sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors fell 2.2 per cent.
The move came as sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers gained 0.5 per cent.
Core retail sales — which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers — were unchanged in February.
TD Bank economist Maria Solovieva said the reading for overall sales in February was weaker than Statistics Canada’s advance estimate for a 0.1 per cent gain.
“Today’s decline in retail sales for February was more widespread than what we saw in January, reflecting weaker-than-expected performance in core measures and underscoring the challenges facing consumers amid rising costs…
