Canadian retail trade rose 1.2% to C$74.6bn ($53.24bn) in August, with sales up across all nine subsectors, according to Statistics Canada.
Retail sales in volume terms also increased by 1.2% during the month.
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Motor vehicle and parts dealers made the largest contribution to the overall increase, with sales rising 1.2%.
New car dealers recorded a 1.5% gain in August, following a 1.4% decline in July.
Automotive parts, accessories and tyre retailers posted a 1.4% growth.
This was offset by declines at other motor vehicle dealers, down 1.4%, and used car dealers, down 0.5%.
Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors climbed 1.7%, their first monthly increase in three months. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors declined 0.5%.
Core retail sales, excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations and fuel vendors, rose 1.1% in August after falling 0.7% in July.
Food and beverage retailers increased sales by 1.1%, marking their first rise in three months. All four store formats within the subsector recorded growth.
General merchandise retailers rose 1.0%, following a 1.7% decline in July, while health and personal care retailers gained 1.6% for a tenth consecutive monthly increase.
Retail sales rose in six provinces. Ontario posted the largest dollar increase, up 2.2%, led by motor vehicle and parts dealers.
Retail activity in the Toronto census metropolitan area (CMA) increased 4%.
British Columbia recorded a 2.1% increase, also driven by motor vehicle and parts dealers, while sales in the Vancouver CMA rose 2.1%.
Alberta registered the largest provincial decrease, dropping 0.1% as sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers declined.
Seasonally adjusted retail e-commerce sales rose 1.1% to C$5.6bn, accounting for 7.6% of total Canadian retail trade.
Statistics Canada’s advance indicator estimated that total retail trade increased 0.7% in September.
The preliminary estimate was based on a 58.5% survey response rate, compared with an average final response rate of 86.8% over the previous 12 months.
