Manitoba still seeing big gains in retail sales

January 23, 2008
Winnipeg Free Press
Written by: Staff/Canwest News Service

MANITOBA remained one of the country's leaders in retail sales growth after the first 11 months of 2007, despite a slight slowdown in consumer spending in November, Statistics Canada figures show.

The federal agency said Tuesday Manitoba retailers rang up $12.7 billion worth of sales during the first 11 months of the year. That was a 9.2 per cent increase from the $11.7 billion recorded in the first 11 months of 2006.

It was also the fourth largest year-to-date increase among the provinces, and more than three percentage points above the national average of six per cent. The only provinces to post bigger increases were Saskatchewan (12.6 per cent), Newfoundland and Labrador (9.8 per cent) and Alberta (9.5 per cent).

Leading in Manitoba was the furniture, home furnishings and electronics stores sector, with a 15.8 per cent increase in sales during the first 11 months. Other big gainers were miscellaneous retailers (15 per cent), the automotive sector (10.9 per cent), and building and outdoor home supplies stores (10.9 per cent).

November's slight decline in sales -- they fell 0.5 per cent to just over $1.19 billion from just over $1.2 billion in October -- came after several months of modest gains. Manitoba was one of four provinces to post a month-over-month decline.

-- Staff/Canwest News Service