Local businesses optimistic amid retail sales decline 

Retail sales in Canada dropped six per cent from August to September, Statistics Canada reported today.  

That was a steeper decline than the year-over-year decline of 2.2 per cent since September 2023.  

The greatest increase was in jewelry, watches and luggage, up 10 per cent since August. The biggest decline was auto and home heating fuels, which dropped 11.7 per cent.  

The seasonally adjusted report is for the period preceding the Canada Post strike that began Nov. 15. The strike is expected to affect retail sales leading up to the holiday season.  

However, the executive director of the Spring Garden Area Business Association is optimistic for the holiday season despite the ramifications of the strike.   

Sue Uteck says the most important thing “for the downtown and Spring Garden area, is the emphasis that we put on local shopping.” 

Since the strike began three weeks ago, Uteck says, for Nova Scotians, “it’s always been such an organically aware community that they will go, ‘You know what? I will go to the bookstore and get my books directly.’ ”  

Uteck predicts that in January the biggest surge in sales will be for big electronic purchases following Ottawa’s planned HST holiday.