Gasoline Retailers: Immigration

Second Consecutive Month Dept: Consecutive monthly declines suggest that consumer spending weakened following stagnant growth observed through 2010. This isn't entirely surprising given recent labour market trends. Provincial employment, measured by total hours worked, has generally trended lower since the end of the third quarter which has likely constrained total retail spending in the economy, according to Vancouver Sun. While most retail sub-groups have had flat or declining sales volumes in recent months, sales at clothing and gasoline retailers seem to have bucked the trend. Despite a decline in December, clothing sales edged up by 2 per cent in January, with the underlying upward trend intact. Clothing prices generally declined in 2010, which may have fuelled some rise in sales activity and retail trade in British Columbia edged down for a second consecutive month in January, dipping 0.4 per cent from December to a seasonally-adjusted $4.78 billion. This followed a 2.3 per cent decline in December and pushed monthly dollar volumes down to the lowest level since October 2009. Based on data adapted from Statistics Canada, January's decline was led by stores selling durable goods. Sales at motor vehicle and parts retailers fell approximately three per cent during the month on a seasonally-adjusted basis, while building materials/gardening equipment retailers observed a six-per-cent decline in sales following three consecutive increases. As reported in the news.
@t labour market trends, durable goods sales