Retail sales in B.C. rose 0.6% in March after remaining relatively flat since December, according to data released Friday by Statistics Canada.
Retail sales rose to $4.87 billion from $4.83 billion in February, contributing to a 2.1% national increase in retail sales in March.
For the 12-month period ending March 31, 2010, retail sales have risen 10.9% in B.C., on par with retail sales increases in several other provinces including Quebec (10.8%), Manitoba (10.2%), Nova Scotia (10.1%) and Ontario (7.1%).
Nationally, much of the increase came from higher motor vehicles sales, although eight of 11 retail sub-sectors reported gains. Within the automotive sector, dealers of motor homes, motorcycles and recreational watercraft reported the largest gains, increasing 5.5%, followed by a 4.6% increase by automotive parts and accessories dealers and tire stores.
Sales rose 3.5% at new car dealers, a second consecutive monthly increase after a period of decline that began in November 2009.
Warmer than usual weather in much of Canada in March likely influenced sales at building material and garden equipment stores, which reported a 6.6% increase in sales to $2.55 billion from $2.4 billion in February.
Other sectors reporting increases include clothing stores (4.4%), sporting goods stores (3.1%), electronics and appliance stores (2.4%), health and personal care stores (2.4%).
Sectors that reported declines included beer and wine stores (-4.7%) and furniture and home furnishing dealers (-0.9%).