Statistics Canada reported on Wednesday that the Canadian retail sales edged up 0.1 percent m-o-m to CAD51.49 billion in April, following a revised 1.3 percent m-o-m climb in March (originally a 1.1 percent m-o-m increase). That was the smallest increase in retail trade since January’s drop of 0.3 percent m-o-m.

The result was below economists’ forecast, suggesting a 0.2 percent m-o-m advance for April.

According to the report, sales rose in 7 of 11 subsectors, representing 74 percent of retail trade.

The April advance was primarily attributable to higher sales at gasoline stations (+1.2 percent m-o-m) and food and beverage stores (+0.4 percent m-o-m).

Excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales inched up 0.1 percent m-o-m in April compared to an upwardly revised 1.8 percent m-o-m gain in March (originally a gain of 1.7 percent m-o-m) and economists’ forecast of a 0.3 percent m-o-m rise.

In y-o-y terms, Canadian retail sales jumped 3.7 percent in April, following an unrevised 2.6 percent advance in March.