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Consumer spending up on garden supplies and retail in general

Ottawa (CP) – Canadian consumers spent $392.4 billion in retail stores last year, 6.4 per cent more than in 2005.

Ottawa (CP) – Canadian consumers spent $392.4 billion in retail stores last year, 6.4 per cent more than in 2005.

Proportionately, of every $100 in retail spending last year, consumers spent about $21 on food and beverages; $22 on motor vehicles, parts and services; $10 on automotive fuels oils and additives; $9 on furniture and home furnishings; $9 on health and personal care; $8 on clothing footwear and accessories; $7 on hardware, lawn and garden materials; $3 on sporting and leisure goods, and $2 on non-electric housewares.

The remainder, about $9, was spent on all other goods and services such as tobacco and pet food.

The big annual gain in 2006 occurred despite modest growth in the last three months of the year.

Sales in the fourth quarter of 2006 amounted to $103.4 billion, up 4.9 per cent from the same quarter of 2005, the weakest quarterly increase in six quarters.

The strongest year-over-year increase of all the major commodity groupings occurred in sales of automotive fuels, oils and additives, which rose 10 per cent to $37.6 billion.