19.06.202612:30:00UTC+00Canada’s Core Retail Sales Nearly Stall in April, Slipping to 0.1% MoM

Canada’s core retail sales growth slowed sharply in April 2026, with the indicator easing to 0.1% month-over-month from a revised 1.2% in March 2026, according to data updated on 19 June 2026. The figure reflects a near standstill in underlying consumer spending compared with the solid pace recorded a month earlier.

On a month-over-month basis, the April reading shows that consumers significantly pulled back after March’s stronger gain. While the indicator remains in positive territory, the marked deceleration suggests that momentum in core retail activity has weakened as households become more cautious.

The comparison highlights a clear loss of pace: March’s 1.2% increase represented a robust advance over February, whereas April’s 0.1% rise points to only marginal growth in spending. Investors and policymakers will be watching upcoming releases closely to see whether April proves to be a temporary pause or the start of a more sustained cooling in Canada’s core retail sector.