The Canadian Jewellers Association (CJA) National Retail Report for December 2025 data, published in early January 2026, indicates muted overall retail sales growth in Canada, while jewellery and related discretionary categories continue to outperform.
The monthly retail performance bulletin, prepared by the J.C. Williams Group and released by the trade association, offers insights valuable to global retail observers, market analysts and industry decision-makers.
National retail snapshot: subdued growth in wider sector
According to the January 2026 National Retail Report, overall Canadian retail sales recorded minimal year-on-year expansion in October 2025.
Across all retail categories, total sales rose by 2.4% year-on-year (YOY) and 4.3% month-on-month (MOM), reflecting a modest uplift in consumer spend compared with the prior month.
This slow pace of growth aligns with broader Canadian retail performance trends, where cautious consumer sentiment and macroeconomic challenges have tempered spending.
Independent industry analyses suggest that retail sales growth in Canada is expected to be only partly recovered in 2025 and to strengthen gradually through 2026, influenced by inflationary pressures and evolving consumer behaviour.
Jewellery retail growth outpaces broader categories
Within the retail landscape, the jewellery, luggage and leather goods segment stood out, reporting a 12.8% YOY increase and a 5.3% increase MOM in October 2025.
This significantly outpaced the overall sector’s performance and points to stronger demand for jewellery and related premium goods during the late-year period.
Industry data from independent research highlights that even as traditional jewellery stores in Canada face competitive pressures from online platforms and larger mass merchants, the segment remains resilient with continued interest from consumers.
Revenue for Canadian jewellery stores was estimated at around C$3.6bn in 2025, despite a slight decline over the past five years, underscoring structural shifts in the market.
Challenges in retail footfall and omnichannel strategy
While sales gains in specific categories were notable, the report drew attention to a decline in footfall (store traffic) through October 2025 compared with earlier in the year.
This trend suggests that retailers are increasingly reliant on conversion rates and basket size rather than foot traffic alone to drive sales volumes.
The absence of updated “Jewellery Clicks” online traffic data for the period also limited deeper analysis of e-commerce performance in the jewellery segment.
In response, the report recommended that retailers sharpen their omnichannel capabilities, refine promotions and focus on service enhancements as part of maintaining competitiveness amid evolving consumer expectations.
