Statistics Canada reported on Friday that the Canadian retail sales tumbled 26.4 percent m-o-m at CAD34.72 billion in April, following an unrevised 10.0 percent m-o-m plunge in March (originally a 10.0 percent m-o-m decline). That was the largest monthly drop on record.

Economists had forecast a 15.1 percent m-o-m fall for April.

According to the report, sales were down in all 11 subsectors, with motor vehicle and parts dealers (-44.3 percent m-o-m), food and beverage stores (-12.7 percent m-o-m) and gasoline stations (-32.2 percent m-o-m) contributing the most to the April decrease.

Excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers, retail sales dropped 22.0 percent m-o-m in April compared to an unrevised 0.4 percent m-o-m decrease in March and economists’ forecast for a 13.5 percent m-o-m drop. Excluding motor vehicle and parts dealers and gasoline stations, retail sales fell 20.7 percent m-o-m in April.

In y-o-y terms, Canadian retail sales tumbled 32.5 percent in April, following an unrevised 8.4 percent tumble in March.