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(Reuters)
OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadians increased their purchases of new cars in September for the first time since January, pushing retail sales higher in the month by an unexpectedly strong 1.1 percent from August, Statistics Canada said on Tuesday.
The increase more than offset the 0.3 percent decline in sales in August. Excluding the auto sector, which accounts for about a third of the total, retail sales expanded 0.8 percent in September. The overall volume of sales rose 0.7 percent, the federal agency said.
Analysts in a Reuters survey had forecast a 0.3 percent rise in total sales and a 0.2 percent increase ex-autos.
Despite seeing near-record sales this year, car dealers in Canada have asked the government for help in ensuring lines of credit as the global crisis threatens to put some automakers out of business.
They sold 2.9 percent more new passenger cars and trucks in September than in August. Sales for gasoline and used vehicles and parts also rose, resulting in a 2.2 percent increase in retail receipts for the automotive sector as a whole.
Four other retail sectors also posted gains, with the strongest being general merchandise stores and food and beverage stores. Stores selling building and outdoor home supplies posted the biggest drop in sales since April 2008.
(Reporting by Louise Egan; Editing by Theodore d'Afflisio)
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