Canadian retail up

from Royal Bank of Canada's Daily Economic Update (3/20):

Canadian retail sales show signs of life

"Retail sales came in stronger than expected in January, rising 1.9% compared to market expectations of a 1% gain. This increase only partially reverses the 5.2% drop in December. Eliminating the impact of price changes, the picture was little changed, with the volume of retail sales up a strong 1.8%, although this only reversed about one-half of December’s 4% drop.

Expectations of a solid gain in January retail sales were primarily based on indications of rising unit car sales and higher gasoline prices raising service station receipts." ...

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