Retail sales drop nationally in October but rise in NL

Nationally, retail sales decreased 0.2 percent to $69.4 billion in October, according to Statistics Canada.

Sales were down in four of nine subsectors, led by decreases at food and beverage retailers.

Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were also down.

In volume terms, retail sales decreased 0.6 percent in October.

In Newfoundland and Labrador, retail sales increased by 1.0 percent, totalling $1.1 billion.