OTTAWA, Sept. 22 (UPI) -- Canadian retail sales fell 0.6 percent to $37.5 billion in July, largely because of motor vehicles and parts sales, Statistics Canada reported Thursday.
Overall retail sales in the country had reported gains in the three previous months, and seven of 11 sectors were down in July, the agency said.
"The 3.5 percent drop in sales at new car dealers offset gains made in June," StatsCan said, adding used car dealer sales were off 2 percent.
Among sectors that saw marginal sales gains were food and beverage store sales, up 0.5 percent and general merchandise store sales advanced 0.8 percent.
Among the 10 provinces, retail trade was down in eight of them, led by Ontario, which the agency attributed largely to the decline in new cars and parts.
