(Ottawa) Statistics Canada reports that retail sales fell 0.1% last August in the country, to 66.1 billion, as sales at new and used car dealerships declined during the month.

The federal agency adds that its initial estimates suggest that retail sales remained unchanged in September, while warning that these figures would be revised.

For the month of August, sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers fell 0.9%, with new car dealers down 1.1% and used car dealers down 1.1%. 0.5%.

Sales at food and beverage retailers fell 1.2% while sales at sporting goods, leisure, musical instrument, book and miscellaneous retailers fell 1.1%.

In volume terms, overall retail sales fell 0.7% in August in Canada.

Finally, Statistics Canada reports that retail sales declined in six provinces last August. The most pronounced provincial decline, of 1.1%, was measured in British Columbia while the largest increase, of 0.9%, was observed in Alberta.

In Quebec, retail sales fell 0.5% in August, notably 0.2% in the Montreal region.