Tills weren't ringing so loudly in June at retail stores in this country, according to figures put out Wednesday morning by Statistics Canada.
The agency reported that Canadian retail sales edged down by 0.2% in June from May to $50.67 billion on lower sales at gasoline stations and car dealers. The move lower followed a 2.2%increase in May.
Sales fell in six of 11 sub-sectors, representing 52% of retail trade. In volume terms, retail sales declined by 0.3%. Sales at gasoline stations fell 2.3%, in part due to lower prices at the pump in June, while sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers dropped 0.7%
Food and beverage stores saw sales increase 0.9%.
Economists had expected an increase of 0.1%.
