Statistics Canada released June retail sales for the country, with cannabis sales increasing from the May levels, up 0.2% to C$480.2 million. This sequential growth was better on a per-day basis due to the extra day in the prior month. May, originally reported at C$485.4 million, was revised slightly lower to C$479.3 million. The sales in June were up 7.4% from a year ago, down from the strongest annual growth since November 2023 in May. This was also down from the 20.3% August 2023 growth rate and above the prior lowest annual growth rate since legalization commenced of -0.9% in September 2024, and it was down somewhat from the December growth of 9.1%. In 2024, total sales increased 4.5% to C$5.39 billion, and they are up 5.5% 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 down 3.4% from May and up 9% from a year ago. Alberta was down 3.0% from May and up 5% from a year ago. British Columbia rose 12.6% from May as it increased 6% from a year ago, while Quebec was down 1.4% from May and up 11% from a year ago.
The July sales data will be released on September 19th.
