Canada's retail sales fall 0.2% in February, less than estimates

ISTANBUL

Canada's retail sales fell 0.2% to $66.3 billion in February, down less than market estimates, the country's statistical authority said Friday.

The market expectation for retail sales was to show a decline of 0.6%.

The figure for January was revised upwards to a gain of 1.6%, from a 1.4% increase.

In February, retail sales fell in four of nine subsectors, representing 48% of retail trade, Statistics Canada said in a statement.

Lower sales at gas stations and fuel vendors led the decrease in retail sales last month, it added.

Core retail sales, which exclude gas stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, rose 0.1% in February.