Retail sales in Canada decreased by 0.1% in November, according to a report issued by Statistics Canada moments ago, to reach $61.8 billion, after rising by about 1.4% in the October reading, while it had been expected to decline by 0.5%.
The main index, which excludes the prices of gasoline and trade in cars and spare parts, declined by 1.1%, in the largest decline in 11 months.
In details, sales in food and beverage stores declined by 1.6%, and sales in building materials and garden equipment decreased by 3.8%, while sales at dealers in cars and spare parts increased by 1.4% in November.
The Canadian dollar is trading at 1.3474 levels against the US dollar, on decline, after the announcement of the data.