Canadian retailers saw a modest pickup in sales in August.
Retail sales rose 1.0 percent to $70.4 billion due to motor vehicle and parts dealer sales of 1.8 percent for the third straight month.
Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors dropped 2.0 percent. Gas sales volumes were down 2.6 percent.
When vehicles and fuel are excluded, core retail sales also strengthened, rising 1.1 percent after a decline in July. General merchandise stores and clothing retailers saw the biggest gains by rising 2.4 percent and 3.2 percent, respectively.
However, weakness in the building materials and garden supplies sector fell 0.3 percent. It points to a slowdown in home renovation and construction-related spending that has persisted since the spring.
Provincially, the picture was mixed. Ontario recorded the largest dollar increase, up 1.2 percent. Quebec also posted a 1.8 percent rise, its third monthly gain, while Nova Scotia saw a 0.5 percent decline, mainly from weaker auto sales.
Online sales remained nearly unchanged, inching up 0.1 percent to $4.3 billion, or about 6.1 percent of total retail trade.
Overall retail sales rose 1.0 percent. It shows that most of the gain reflected increased purchasing rather than higher prices. Still, the broader trend shows only limited momentum.
It looks like the August gain, though positive, does not signal a major shift in consumer strength. With high household debt and slowing wage growth, spending increases are likely to remain uneven through the fall.