Canadian retail sales increased 0.4% in April to an estimated $34.1 billion, led by sales at new car dealers, Statistics Canada reported today.

It was the third monthly increase in a row for Canadian retailers. Excluding new, used and recreational vehicles and parts dealers, retail sales were flat.

The automotive sector saw sales gains of 1.6%, building on a strong 3.6% increase in March. Aside from the automotive sector, only two other sectors registered increases in April.

Sales grew 1.1% in furniture, home furnishings and electronic stores, the sixth consecutive monthly gain. The food and beverage stores sector posted back-to-back gains of 0.8% in March and April after a strong increase of 1.5 pe cent in February.

Partly offsetting the increases were declines in: building and outdoor home supplies stores, down 2.7%, miscellaneous retailers, down -2.1%, clothing and accessories stores, off1%, general merchandise stores, down 0.8%, and pharmacies and personal care stores, off 0.3%.