Sales at food and drinking places bounce back in September

November 24, 2023, 11:00 a.m. (EST)

Following a pause in August in the wake of wildfires, seasonally adjusted sales at food and drinking places rose 0.8% to $7.7 billion in September.

September 2023 Sales (seasonally adjusted) +0.8% to $7.7 billion.  Price Variations September 2023 versus September 2022 +6.1%  Food purchased from restaurants, +6.4%  Alcoholic beverages served in licensed establishments.
Limited-Service Restaurants $3.5B +0.7%.  Special Food Services $597.4M +3.9%.

The increase was due to higher sales at limited-service restaurants (+0.7%) and special food services (+3.9%).

Sales were up in seven provinces, with the largest increases in British Columbia (+1.6%), Quebec (+1.2%) and Ontario (+0.5%).

Sales were down or flat throughout Atlantic Canada in September. New Brunswick (-1.1%) reported the largest decline nationally.

Sales in food services and drinking places, Largest monthly variations in dollars (seasonally adjusted), provinces and territories:  British Columbia +1.6%, Quebec  +1.2%, Ontario +0.5%, New Brunswick -1.1%.

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