After spiking 3.4% in October, seasonally adjusted retail sales in Alberta edged up 0.1% in November.

Nationally, retail sales rose 0.7% in November with New Brunswick posting the largest increase (3.0%) and Prince Edward Island the largest decrease (-1.2%).

The overall situation was much improved compared to a year earlier with unadjusted retail sales in Alberta 10.2% ($717 million) higher than in November 2020.

Year-over-year sales were up in every province. Sales in Canada as a whole were 6.9% higher with Manitoba posting the largest increase (16.2%) and Quebec the smallest (4.1%).

The growth since November 2020, however, was not evenly spread across retail sectors.

Year-over-year gas station sales in Alberta were up the most at 35.7% in November 2021 versus November 2020. Other sectors that did well include building and garden stores (+23.1%), clothing stores (+18.1%), new car dealers (+12.5%) and cannabis stores (+9.3%).

Sectors that were down compared to the year before include food and beverage stores (-3.5%), electronics and appliance stores (-6.7%), and sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (-9.6%).

Answer to the previous trivia question: Set in 2022 and starring Charlton Heston, Soylent Green was released in 1973. The film depicts a dystopian future of food shortages and poverty.

Today’s trivia question: Which store is considered to be the most expensive in the world?