B.C. retail sales continued their decline in December, falling 5.6% to $4.28 billion from $4.5 billion in November.
Year-over-year, retail sales in the province were down 11.3%.
A massive drop in auto sales was the main contributor to sales declines across Canada. Automotive sales fell 12.7% in December to $9.9 billion from $11.3 billion in November. For the year, auto dealers have seen a 20.2% drop in sales from $12.4 billion in December 2007.
Elsewhere, furniture sales fell 3% in December and 2.2% for the year. Computer and software stores suffered a 7.3% monthly sales decline and a 10.6% overall drop in 2008.
However, some sectors did fare relatively well.
Home electronics and appliance stores, while realizing a 0.8% drop in sales in December, were up 5.1% for the year to $1.1 billion. Food and beverage sales were down 1% in December, but up 4% for 2008 to $8.1 billion.
Beer and wine stores, pharmacies, general merchandise and sporting goods, books and hobby stores all posted sales increases for the year despite suffering modest declines in December.