Canadian retailers posted their seventh sales advance in the first eight months of 2004, Statistics Canada said today. Retail sales reached a record $29.1 billion in August, up 0.8% from July when sales rose 0.4%.

“Retailers continued to enjoy steady growth in August, posting their seventh sales advance in the first eight months of 2004,” StatsCan said.

The August sales increase surpassed the 0.4% gain seen in July. Through the first eight months of this year, cumulative retail sales were 4.2% higher than in the same period of 2003.

The statistical agency said sales grew by at least 0.9% in all but three retail sectors. In August, home centres and hardware stores posted the strongest sales growth at 5.8% as the sector continued to benefit from strong housing demand.

Clothing retailers saw their sales dip 1.5%, while retailers in the miscellaneous, which includes office supplies, sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores, reported a decline of 1.3%. General merchandise stores saw their sales remain flat in August.