Canadian retail sales fell by 0.4 per cent on a seasonally adjusted basis in February, largely due to lower sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, following a 0.6-per-cent dip in January. Core retail sales — which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors, and motor vehicle and parts dealers — increased by 0.5 per cent. On a volume basis, sales fell by 0.4 per cent. Tariff impacts on the economy were still limited in February, although likely filtered through confidence channels. Early estimates for a March bounce-back could reflect some front-loading of purchases or hoarding in advance of retaliatory tariffs. However, the growth is likely to be temporary as consumer confidence remains significantly subdued in the near term.

In B.C., total retail sales decreased by 0.6 per cent in February after seven consecutive monthly increases. Unadjusted retail sales in........

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