OTTAWA — Statistics Canada says retail sales increased 0.6 per cent to $43.2 billion in June.
Economists had expected an increase of 0.2 per cent, according to Thomson Reuters.
Sales were up in eight of the 11 subsectors.
Gasoline stations posted a gain of 2.6 per cent as the price of gasoline in June increased. Sales at electronics and appliance stores increased 9.4 per cent in June.
Retail sales were up in all 10 provinces in June with Ontario posting the largest increase in dollar terms.
In the first six months of the year, retail sales were up 2.2 per cent compared with the first half of 2014.