Canadian retail sales rose 0.5% in April 2026, falling short of the 0.6% consensus forecast, according to data reported on 19 June 2026. The prior month's reading was revised up to 0.9%. Sales excluding autos grew only 0.1% against a 0.7% expectation, while core sales excluding gas stations fell 0.7%. Food and beverage retail declined 2.0% and general merchandise dropped 1.7% on the month.
The headline 0.5% gain was driven entirely by higher gasoline prices rather than volume growth; underlying volume sales were flat for the month. An advanced estimate for May 2026 showed a rebound of +1.0%, which Finnhub coverage attributed to weather-related softness having weighed on the April figures.
The Canadian dollar (CAD) and the Toronto Stock Exchange (TSX) were the instruments directly named in connection with this data release, spanning the retail and consumer discretionary sectors. The weakness was concentrated in food, beverage, and general merchandise categories, with gasoline station revenues masking broader softness in consumer spending volume.
Sources: Finnhub, Guardian Business