Slowing Car Sales Point to Gathering Softness in Canada Economy

Canada’s spring economic soft patch deepened as new car sales faltered and inflation remained stuck below the central bank’s target, adding consumer weakness to troubles in Alberta’s oil patch.

Retail sales fell 1 percent in March, faster than the 0.6 percent drop economists had forecast, Statistics Canada said Friday from Ottawa. Receipts at new car dealers decreased 3 percent, and sales of furniture, building materials and food and beverages also dropped.