Recently, according to Statistics Canada, thanks to the relaxation of lockdown restrictions in most areas, national retail sales in March increased 3.6% to 57.6 billion Canadian dollars.

Among them, furniture retail sales were 1.942 billion Canadian dollars, a slight increase of 8.7% from the previous month, and an increase of 63.5% from 1.188 billion Canadian dollars in the same period last year. The retail sales of building materials and garden equipment and supplies reached 4.36 billion Canadian dollars, an increase of 20% from the previous month and a year-on-year increase of 48.6%. At the same time, it was also the main contributor to the growth of the retail industry this month.

In March, 10 of the 11 retail sub-sectors saw an increase in retail sales. Excluding gas stations and auto and parts retailers, core retail sales increased by 4.7%.

However, Statistics Canada said that with the tightening of lockdown regulations, retail sales will likely drop by 5.1% starting in April.

The agency pointed out that it is only making preliminary estimates, and the estimated value will change after receiving more feedback from the companies it surveyed.

TD Bank economist Ksenia Bushmeneva predicts that the retail industry will be weak in April and May based on spending and travel data.

"The situation may not improve until at least June. With the decline in the number of cases and the substantial increase in vaccination rates, many provinces are planning to begin to relax restrictions by then."

As Canada begins to impose tariffs on various types of upholstered seats produced in China and Vietnam, resulting in a reduction in imports, and tariffs on cork exported to the United States will also increase, the development of the Canadian furniture industry can be described as difficult.