After three consecutive months of gains, B.C. retail sales hit turbulence in June, falling 4.8 per cent from May, and 1.6 per cent from June 2022, according to Statistics Canada.
The nation's number cruncher attributed B.C.'s lower retail sales to fewer transactions for motor vehicles and parts for those vehicles.
When Metro Vancouver data was broken out from the rest of the province, the region's retail sales in June were down 3.1 per cent month-over-month, and 2.2 per cent year-over-year.
Metro Vancouver and the rest of the province's flagging sales compared with a 0.1 per cent increase in retail sales across the country month-over-month. Retail sales Canada-wide fell 0.6 per cent in June, compared with June 2022.
Statistics Canada noted that retail sales increased in four provinces in June, compared with May: New Brunswick (3.6 per cent,) Saskatchewan (1.8 per cent,) Ontario (+1.7 per cent) and Quebec (+1.3 per cent).
Unlike B.C., Ontario retail sales rose in June on the strength of higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers.
Overall, B.C. consumers spent $8.936 billion on retail sales in June.
