Food service sales reach $8.9B in August, up 0.3%

Sales at Canadian restaurants, bars and other food service businesses rose 0.3 per cent in August to $8.9 billion, Statistics Canada said Thursday, but only four provinces posted gains.

Ontario led in dollar terms at $3.49 billion, up 0.4 per cent from July. British Columbia had the strongest monthly growth at 0.6 per cent, to $1.54 billion. Alberta rose 0.3 per cent to $1.17 billion and Quebec rose 0.2 per cent to $1.71 billion.

Six provinces and all three territories saw sales slip. Nova Scotia fell 0.8 per cent to $217.6 million and Saskatchewan fell 0.7 per cent to $231.9 million. Newfoundland and Labrador dropped 0.6 per cent to $98.7 million, New Brunswick 0.5 per cent to $151.3 million, Manitoba 0.3 per cent to $253.9 million and Prince Edward Island 0.1 per cent to $39.0 million.

In the territories, the Northwest Territories fell 1.1 per cent to $9.0 million, Nunavut 0.6 per cent to $1.9 million and Yukon 0.3 per cent to $10.4 million.

By our calculation from the agency’s figures, Ontario, Quebec, British Columbia and Alberta together accounted for about $7.92 billion, or roughly 89 per cent of national sales. Ontario alone made up about 39 per cent, Quebec 19 per cent, British Columbia 17 per cent and Alberta 13 per cent. The only four provinces to grow were the same four.

The figures are dollar sales, so changes in menu prices are not separated from changes in the number of meals served. The data are from Statistics Canada’s release, based on Table 21-10-0019-01.

The restaurant figures follow a mixed picture for consumers. Retail sales rose 1.2 per cent in August, while payrolls fell 49,600 in August and Canada lost 949 more businesses than it gained in July.

If you find reporting like this useful, consider supporting Canada News Media, an independent Canadian newsroom with no corporate parent.