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Province sees small dip in retail sales

WINNIPEG — Manitoba’s retail sales dipped for the second consecutive month in February, according to new Statistics Canada figures released today.

The agency said Manitoba’s retail sector rang up $1.39-billion worth of sales during the month. That was a decline of 0.4 per cent from January’s total of $1.396 billion, and followed a 1.2 per cent reduction in sales for that month.

The decline here was the second-smallest among the six provinces that posted weaker sales for February. Prince Edward Island recorded the biggest percentage drop, at 2.6 per cent.

Canada saw its retail sales dip by 0.2 per cent to $38.9 billion, largely offsetting January’s small gain.

Statistics Canada said slower sales by new-car dealerships accounted for most of the national decline.

A research note by TD economist Dina Cover said February’s retail sales were disappointing compared with expectations for an increase of 0.2 per cent from January, rather than a decline.

"As expected, the considerable boost from auto sales seen in January has faded — and is unlikely to return in the near future given that we expect new vehicle sales to be relatively flat this year," Cover wrote.

— with files by Canadian Press

murray.mcneill@freepress.mb.ca

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