Canada October retail sales down 0.2%; seen up 1.2% in November

OTTAWA, Dec 19 (Reuters) - Canadian retail sales fell by 0.2% in October from September to C$69.44 billion ($50.40 billion), on lower sales at food and beverage retailers, Statistics Canada said on Friday.

In October, sales were down in four of the nine subsectors, representing 41.6% of retail sales. In volume terms, retail sales decreased 0.6% in October.

Retail sales, which include domestic sales of cars, furniture, food and gasoline, are considered an early indicator of gross domestic product growth and contribute around 40% to total consumer spending.

• Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, were down 0.5% in October.

• The largest decrease to core retail sales came from food and beverage retailers, with beer, wine and liquor retailers contributing the most to the decline.

• Sales were also down in the clothing and clothing accessories sector and at health and personal care retailers in October, StatsCan said.

• Motor vehicle and parts dealers' sales were up 0.6%, recording the largest increase in retail sales in October. This was mainly led by sales of new cars.

• Sales were likely up 1.2% in November, the agency said in a flash estimate.