By Ovunc Kutlu
ISTANBUL (AA) - Canada's retail sales rose 0.9% to $66.4 billion in July, the country's statistical authority said Friday.
The figure came higher than market expectations of 0.5%, while retail sales for June was revised to a decline of 0.2% from a decrease of 0.3%.
In July, sales were up in seven of nine subsectors, led by increases at motor vehicle and parts dealers with a gain of 2.2%, Statistics Canada said in a statement.
Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and motor vehicle and parts dealers, rose 0.6% in July, posting their second consecutive monthly increase, it added.
The market estimate for the figure was to show an increase of 0.2%.
The core retail sales figure for June was revised to a gain of 0.3% from a rise of 0.4%.