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Canadian retailers emerged from months of slumping sales with a sharp rebound in February that may ease some worries about consumer weakness.



Retailers posted a 0.8 percent gain in sales on the month, Statistics Canada said Thursday from Ottawa, versus economist expectations for a 0.4 percent gain. February's increase was the strongest since May 2018, and follows six straight months of negative or flat readings -- including a 0.4 percent decline in January -- that fueled concern about slowing household consumption.



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A pick-up in receipts was expected on the back of rising prices for gasoline, but the numbers suggest Canadians were in a spending mood beyond the extra cost of filling up their tanks. New car dealers saw a 3.1 percent increase in sales, while strong gains were also recorded at general merchandise stores and supermarkets.



The retail figures will restore confidence the nation's economy is poised for a better start to this year, after the economic expansion nearly came to a halt at the end 2018.



While first quarter gross domestic product numbers won't be released until the end of next month, there were a series of negative readings in February for exports and manufacturing that raised questions around growth for that month. February GDP data is due April 30.



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In volume terms, retail sales were up 0.2 percent in February.



Sales were up in only five of 11 subsectors, but those sectors were the largest ones and represent 73 percent of total sales.



Excluding autos, sales were up 0.6 percent -- topping expectations for a 0.2% gain. That follows a 0.6 percent decline for this gauge in January.



— With assistance by Erik Hertzberg