Canadian retail sales put in a strong showing in November, rising a better than expected 0.3% to $38.7 billion.

It was the fourth consecutive month retail sales increased and the results beat economists’ expectations for a 0.2% rise.

Statistics Canada said Tuesday that seven of 11 retail subsectors, representing 65% of total retail sales, reported gains.

Sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers advanced for a fourth consecutive month, up 0.3%.

Clothing and clothing accessories stores reported a 0.9% sales gain during November, the third increase in a row.

However, sales at food and beverage stores declined 0.3% after five monthly gains. Statistics Canada said the decrease came mainly from lower sales at supermarkets and other grocery stores.

Sales at furniture and home furnishings stores fell by 0.8%, a third consecutive sales decrease.

Retail sales during November were up in half of the provinces, rising in Quebec and the four Western provinces for a fourth month in a row. But sales declined in all of the Atlantic provinces and Ontario.