Retail sales rising in Canada

OTTAWA, May 20 (UPI) -- Canadian retail sales edged up 0.2 percent in March to $30.4 billion, largely on the strength of sectors outside vehicle and auto parts sectors.

Excluding sales by dealers of new, used and recreational vehicles and auto parts, retail sales actually rose 0.9 percent in March, after advancing 2.1 percent in January and 1.1 percent in February, Statistics Canada reported Friday.

Consumer spending in retail stores has been increasing in almost every month since the start of 2004, except for the declines in December and April of that year.