Investing.com - Retail sales in Canada unexpectedly decreased in December, dampening optimism over the Canadian economy, official data showed on Wednesday.
In a report, Statistics Canada said that Canadian, retail sales fell 0.5% in December, compared to forecasts for a 0.1% advance and the 0.3% gain in the prior month, that was revised from an initial 0.2% increase.
Core retail sales, excluding automobiles, decreased by 0.3% in December, after a 0.1% decline in the preceding month which was revised from an initial 0.1% gain.
Analysts had expected Canadian core retail sales to rise 0.6% in December.
After the report, which was released simultaneously with inflation data, USD/CAD traded at 1.3193, compared to 1.3167 prior to the release.