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August 20, 2021RETAIL TRADE, JUNE 2021 With June reference month results, year-over-year (Jun 2021 vs Jun 2020) and year-to-date (Jan-Jun 2021 vs Jan-Jun 2020) show rebounds in economic activity from the unprecedented declines observed in the first wave of the COVID-19 pandemic.
MONTH OVER MONTH (seasonally adjusted Jun 2021 vs May 2021)
In Nova Scotia Retail Trade increased 16.3% to $1,583.0 million, and nationally, Retail Trade increased 4.2% to $56.2 billion.
Six provinces reported monthly increases in retail trade, with Nova Scotia (16.3%) reporting the largest gain and Newfoundland and Labrador(-2.6% reporting the largest decline.
YEAR OVER YEAR (seasonally adjusted Jun 2021 vs Jun 2020)
In Nova Scotia Retail Trade increased 14.7%, and nationally, Retail Trade increased 6.2%.
Nine provinces reported year-over-year increases in retail trade, with Nova Scotia (14.7%) reporting the largest gain, and Newfoundland and Labrador(-1.6%) reporting the only decline.
YEAR TO DATE (seasonally adjusted Jan-Jun 2021 vs Jan-Jun 2020)
Nova Scotia Retail Trade increased 22.6%, and nationally, Retail Trade increased 17.9%.
All provinces reported year-to-date increases in retail trade, with Prince Edward Island (27.2%) reporting the largest gain and Ontario (12.8%) reporting the smallest gain.
NOVA SCOTIA SECTORS
YEAR TO DATE (Unadjusted Jan-Jun 2021 vs Jan-Jun 2020)
Retail Trade increased 23.3% or $1.6 billion.
In dollar terms, Motor Vehicle contributed most to the increase with a gain of $833.5 million. Building materials ($203.6 million) and gas stations ($194.2 million) made the next largest contributions. The smallest increases were reported in electronics ($28.2 million) and food and beverage stores ($24.2 million).
TRENDS ( January 2013 to June 2021)
Nova Scotia's retail sales declined sharply from February 2020 to May 2020. Retail sales returned to February 2020 levels in summer 2020 but have fluctuated with renewed restrictions in 2021. Compared to February 2020, Nova Scotia's June 2021 retail sales were up 16.0% above their pre-pandemic levels.
National retail sales also rebounded after the sharp decline in March and April 2020. In June 2021, retail sales had increased 8.0% above pre-pandemic levels. In Ontario, retail sales were 1.8% above pre-pandemic levels - the smallest increase among the provinces.
E-Commerce (seasonally adjusted)
In June 2021, Canada's ecommerce sales decreased 9.5% to $3.8 billion or 6.7% of total retail sales.
On a year-over-year basis (Jun 2021 vs Jun 2020), seasonally adjusted retail e-commerce sales increased 5.6%.
On a year-to-date basis (Jan-Jun 2021 vs Jan-Jun 2020), retail e-commerce sales increased 34.0%
REFERENCES
Statistics Canada. Tables 20-10-0072-01 Retail E-commerce sales, unadjusted (x 1,000) , 20-10-0008-01 Retail trade sales by province and territory (x 1,000)
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