OTTAWA, Jan. 23 (UPI) -- Retail sales receipts in Canada rose 0.6 percent to $41 billion in November, the fourth increase in five months, Statistics Canada reported Thursday.
Gains were broad based with nine of 11 sub-sectors posting higher sales from October. The largest of the gains was posted by sales of motor vehicles and parts, StatsCan said.
StatsCan said weather and the timing of new product releases "had a greater effect on monthly sales than promotional events in November, such as Black Friday."
StatsCan said sales of vehicles rose 0.6 percent at new dealerships. In addition, early snowfalls this winter contributed to November's gain in auto parts, which included the sales of snow tires and fresh sets of windshield wipers and other winter upgrades.
At used car dealerships, sales rose 5.5 percent.
Early cold weather also gave apparel sales a boost in November, StatsCan said. Sales of clothing and clothing accessories rose 1.1 percent. Sales at electronics and appliance stores rose 6.4 percent "on the strength of new product releases," StatsCan said.
Following three consecutive monthly gains, sales at food and beverage stores dropped 1.1 percent in November with a 1.4 percent decline at supermarket and grocery stores and a 2 percent decline at convenience stores.
