Source: The Canadian Press

Canadian shoppers were a lot less active in April than expected, resulting in a broad-based and steep drop in retail sales across the country.

Statistics Canada says retail sales decreased 2% in current dollars to $36.2 billion in April after a gain of similar magnitude in March.

The drop was several times bigger than projected by economists ahead of the Statistics Canada report.

The agency said 10 of 11 retail subsectors and in all provinces showed declines in April.

The only subsector to register a gain was electronics and appliance stores, where sales increased 0.6%.

Among the notable declines was a 5.3% drop for new-car dealers and a 5.2% decline in sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores.

The agency also reported a 4.8% decline at motor vehicle and parts dealers and lower sales at other motor vehicle dealers (down 6.8%) and used car dealers (down 4.4).

Sales at automotive parts, accessories and tire stores were up 2.3%, their third straight monthly increase, while sales at gasoline stations were down 2% after 11 straight increases.

Sales at building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers decreased 2% and food and beverage stores sales fell 0.5.

Retail sales declined for a third consecutive month at furniture and home furnishing stores, edging down 0.3%.