**Canadian Retail Sales Rise in June, Led by Automotive Sector**.
Canada’s retail sales recorded a modest increase in June, primarily driven by a surge in automotive sales, according to Statistics Canada data released on Wednesday..
**Key Highlights:**.
* Retail sales rose 0.4% month-over-month in June, following a revised 0.1% decline in May..
* Sales excluding motor vehicles and parts increased by 0.3% in June..
* Automotive sales jumped by 3.3%, continuing the recovery trend seen in recent months..
* Sales at gasoline stations increased by 2.9%, reflecting higher fuel prices..
* Furniture and home furnishings stores posted a 1.6% gain, indicating ongoing demand for home improvement..
**Underlying Trend Remains Weak**.
Despite the monthly increase, retail sales in June remained below their pre-pandemic levels. On a year-over-year basis, sales were only 0.9% higher, indicating a subdued overall trend..
Joel Greenberg, a senior economist at the Canadian Imperial Bank of Commerce (CIBC), commented on the data: .
