Retail sales rose 0.2% in November after declining for two months, as gasoline stations pumped out strong results, Statistics Canada reported today.

However, excluding gasoline and the rest of the automotive sector, sales slid 0.6% for the month. And adjusted for price changes, total retail sales were down 0.2% in November after falling 0.6% in October.

StatsCan said that retail sales had been rising rapidly since 2004 before the slump in September and October almost offset strong gains in July and August.

In November, the story was mixed, with half of the country’s retail sectors rising and half falling.

The automotive segment was up 1.8% on the month, including a 4.5% rise in gasoline sales, while stores selling building products and outdoor home supplies rang up a 1% increase.

But sales of clothing and accessories faded 2.7%, miscellaneous retailers suffered a 2.4% pullback and general merchandise stores registered a 1.5% decline.