Although the data agency did offer an optimistic glimpse at August's numbers, showing the early data suggests sales grew by another 1.1 per cent. Sales of cars and car parts grew by 3.3 per cent, "on continued pent-up demand for motor vehicles following pandemic-driven dealership closures in the spring," Statscan said. Automotive-related sales helped push up the overall retail sales figure, but not every type of store saw higher sales. And most of them have higher sales today than they did a year ago, regardless of COVID-19. In April, when most physical stores were shut down, online shopping made up about 10 per cent of all retail sales in Canada.

Source: CBC News September 18, 2020 14:14 UTC