Statistics Canada released October retail sales for the country, with cannabis sales decreasing from the September levels, down 4.7% to C$451.7 million. This sequential decline was down on a per-day basis more due to the higher number of days as the prior month. September, originally reported at C$475.0 million, was revised slightly lower to C$473.9 million. The sales in October were down 0.9% from a year ago, down from the level in May at 8.3%, from 7.5% in June and the 6.2% in September. This was also down from the 20.3% August 2023 growth rate and equal to the prior lowest annual growth rate since legalization commenced of -0.9% in September 2024, and it was down substantially from the December growth of 9.1%. The record level in August was only 1.8% above the year-earlier level. In 2024, total sales increased 4.5% to C$5.39 billion, and they are up 4.3% so far in 2025.
An increase in the number of stores as well as falling flower prices that bring consumers from the illicit market have been boosting sales. In Ontario, the largest province in population, sales were up 0.1% from September and 3% from a year ago. Alberta was up 5.5% from September and up 4% from a year ago. British Columbia plunged 55.0% from September as it decreased 54% from a year ago, while Quebec was up 8.8% from September and up 31% from a year ago.
The November sales data will be released on January 23rd.
