Retail pushes higher in Ontario
Ontario's retail sector continues to grow, despite the loss of cross-border shoppers to Western New York.
A new Statistics Canada report says that Ontario's retail sales grew by 0.7 percent between March and April. That was slightly better than the nationwide increase of 0.6 percent.
It marked the second straight increase in retail activity in Ontario, essentially wiping out February's sharp decline. Ontario's retail sales have generally been on the upswing since hitting a low point in mid-2007.
That coincides with the period in which the Canadian dollar reached parity with the American dollar, inspiring Ontario bargain hunters to do more of their shopping on the New York side of the Niagara River payday loans quick payday loans.
Total retail sales amounted to $12.7 billion (Canadian) in Ontario in April — and $35.6 billion (Canadian) in all of Canada.