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June 19, 2020RETAIL TRADE, APRIL 2020 During the COVID-19 pandemic, comparisons of year-to-date averages and sums do not show Nova Scotia’s rapidly-changing economic situation. The DailyStats will focus on year-over-year comparisons, comparing one month with the same month in the prior year. Where possible the DailyStats will make comparisons of seasonally adjusted data from the pre-COVID-19 period (January and February 2020) with the period during which COVID-19 measures were in place from March 2020 onwards.
In Nova Scotia April 2020, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 24.48 per cent over March 2020 to $935.4 million. In Apr 2020 vs Apr 2019, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 31.5 per cent.
Nationally, April 2020, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 26.36 per cent over March 2020 to $34.7 billion. In Apr 2020 vs Apr 2019, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 32.5 per cent.
Canada and the Provinces
On a month over month basis, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 26.36 per cent nationally. No provinces reported monthly increases in retail trade, only declines. Saskatchewan (14.8 per cent) reporting the smallest decline. Nova Scotia reported a decline (24.5 per cent) over the previous month. Ontario reported the largest decline (32.8 per cent).
On a year over year basis, seasonally adjusted Retail Trade decreased 32.5 per cent nationally. No provinces reported year-over-year increases in retail trade, only declines. British Columbia (22.1 per cent) reporting the smallest decline. Nova Scotia reported a decline (31.5 per cent) over the same month last year. Quebec reported the largest decline (37.7 per cent).
Nova Scotia Sectors
Unadjusted Year-over-year (Apr 2020 vs Apr 2019), Retail Trade decreased 31.7 per cent ($422.6 million) to $0.9 million.
In Nova Scotia the largest declines in retail sales (Apr-20 vs Apr-19 unadjusted) were reported in
- Motor Vehicle with a 18% share of Retail Trade decreased 62.0 per cent ($262.7 million)
- Furniture with a 1% share decreased 62.1 per cent ($19.4 million)
- Electronics with a 1% share decreased 38.0 per cent ($4.6 million)
- Health with a 9% share decreased 17.9 per cent ($18.5 million)
- Gas Stations with a 9% share decreased 51.0 per cent ($84.4 million)
- Sporting & Hobbies with a 1% share decreased 73.7 per cent ($14.0 million)
- General Merchandise with a 15% share decreased 9.5 per cent ($14.6 million)
- Miscellaneous Stores with a 3% share decreased 8.8 per cent ($2.5 million)
Nova Scotia's retails sales were up (Apr-20 vs Apr-19) for:
- Building Material with a 9% share increased 7.6 per cent ($6.0 million)
- Food & Beverage with a 34% share increased 11.7 per cent ($32.3 million)
Data for Clothing stores was rated as unreliable.
Canada Sectors
Nationally, declines in retail sales (Apr20 vs Apr19 unadjusted) were reported in
- Clothing stores: -86.1 per cent
- Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores: -65.8 per cent
- Furniture stores: -64.8 per cent
- Motor vehicle/parts dealers: -62.1 per cent
- Gas stations: -47.8 per cent
- Electronics and appliance stores: -24.2 per cent
- Miscellaneous stores: -23.9 per cent
- Health and personal care stores: -12.3 per cent
- Building material and garden equipment stores: -11.2 per cent
- General merchandise stores: -10.9 per cent
Nationally, increases in retail sales (Apr20 vs Apr19 unadjusted) were reported in
- Food and beverage stores: 12.4 per cent
In Canada April 2020,
- on a month-over-month basis, unadjusted retail e-commerce sales increased 56.0 per cent over March 2020 to $3.4 billion, representing a 10.0% share of total retail trade.
- On a year-over-year basis, unadjusted retail e-commerce sales increased 120.3 per cent over April 2019.
Cannabis stores
In Nova Scotia, April 2020, on a month-over-month basis, unadjusted retail cannabis store sales decreased 13.3 per cent over March 2020 to $5.6 million and on a year-over-year basis, unadjusted retail cannabis store sales increased 13.6 per cent over April 2019.
In Canada, April 2020, on a month-over-month basis, unadjusted retail cannabis store sales decreased 0.6 per cent over March 2020 to $180.2 million and on a year-over-year basis, unadjusted retail cannabis store sales increased 141.5 per cent over April 2019.
TABLES & SELECTED FIELDS
Statistics Canada Citations
Table 20-10-0072-01 Retail E-commerce sales, unadjusted (x 1,000)
Table 20-10-0008-01 Retail trade sales by province and territory (x 1,000)
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