B.C.'s retail sales increased 3.1% in January but fell 1.3% in February, according to data released from Statistics Canada Thursday.
Retail sales fell to $4.33 billion from $4.38 billion, a 9.1% drop compared with sales in February 2008.
The 1.3% decline in B.C. and Alberta was primarily offset by increased sales in Ontario and Quebec, resulting in a 0.2% increase in overall retail sales in Canada.
Retailers gained 1.1% in sales in Quebec and 1% in Ontario in February as Canadians boosted spending in five of the eight retail sectors StatsCan reports. Total Canadian retail sales rose to $33.74 billion in February from $33.67 billion in January.
The largest contributors to February's sales figures included a 3% rise in building and outdoor home supply sales to $2.18 billion from $2.11 billion and a 0.7% increase in food and beverage stores to $8.33 billion from $8.27 billion.
Auto sales continued to decline. They were down 1.6% to $5.1 billion from $5.2 billion. Year-over-year, auto sales have plunged 20.2% in Canada.