Statistics Canada released January retail sales for the country, with cannabis sales decreasing from the December levels, down 8.4% to C$466.1 million from the all-time high monthly total. The sequential decrease was up the same 8.4% on a per-day basis more due to the equal number of days than in the prior month. December, originally reported at C$503.7 million, was revised slightly higher to C$508.6 million. The sales in December were up 6.4% from a year ago, down from the level in May at 8.3% and 7.5% in June but better than the prior lowest annual growth rate since legalization commenced of -0.9% in September 2024 and then -1.6% in October due to the BC strike. In December, growth was much slower at just 3.9%. In 2024, total sales increased 4.5% to C$5.39 billion, and they were up 4.1% in 2025 to C$5.62 billion.
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 down 8.6% from December and down 4% from a year ago. Alberta was down 4.7% from December but up 1% from a year ago. British Columbia decreased by 9.5% from December but soared 31% from a year ago, while Quebec was down 12.5% from December but up 29% from a year ago.
The February sales data will be released on April 24th.
