Core retail sales in Canada declined 0.7% in April, marking a second consecutive monthly decrease, even as total retail sales rose 0.5% from March to 73 billion Canadian dollars. The fall in core retail sales, which excludes gasoline stations and fuel vendors as well as motor vehicle and parts dealers, was mainly due to weaker sales at food and beverage retailers, down 2%, and general merchandise retailers, down 1.7%. Overall retail sales were supported by gains in five of nine subsectors, with the largest increase coming from gasoline stations and fuel vendors, where sales rose 5.1%. Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers rose 1.7% in April, following a 0.1% decline in March. In volume terms, total retail sales were unchanged during the month.