Canada’s Q2 Retail Rebound Lifts Spending by 2.8%
- ClearView Insider
- Sep 3
- 1 min read
Retail sales in Canada surged 1.5% in June, contributing to a 2.8% annualized increase in real retail spending for Q2—more than double Q1’s 1.2% growth. Gains were broad-based, with all nine tracked sectors posting increases and strong showings from food/beverage (+2.3%), clothing/accessories (+5.1%), and building materials/garden supplies (+2.4%).
Alberta saw a solid 1.0% month-over-month gain, part of a national rise in six provinces, while Quebec held flat and Nova Scotia declined. Excluding autos and gas, core retail jumped 1.9%—its strongest performance in seven months—supported by a preference for domestic summer spending over U.S. travel.
The rebound follows a sharp May dip, and reflects housing-related strength and modest resale market recovery. However, July’s advance estimate points to a 0.8% decline, and Q3 may soften as mortgage renewal costs rise, labour market momentum fades, and population growth slows.
Source: Dahms, Kyle. “Canada: Retail Sales Up for Q2, Risks Up for Q3.” National Bank of Canada, Aug 22, 2025
Connect with ClearView: Curious how consumer spending trends intersect with retail leasing or mixed-use strategy in Calgary? Reach us at info@cvpartners.ca or visit www.cvpartners.ca
