Canadian retail sales rose 0.5% to $62.1B in December

Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.5 per cent to $62.1 billion in December.

The federal agency's preliminary estimate for January suggests Canadian consumers continued spending in the new year, with early figures indicating sales increased 0.7 per cent last month.

Sales grew in seven of 11 subsectors in December, representing 75.1 per cent of retail trade. 

Statistics Canada says higher sales at motor vehicle and parts dealers, up 3.8 per cent, and general merchandise stores, up 1.7 per cent, led the increase.