Monthly Survey of Large Retailers (LMR)

Summary of changes

Activity on this program started: January 1997

Reference period of change - April 2019

As of release date June 17, 2019, the Monthly Survey of Large Retailers (LMR) released its final estimates and the survey has now been terminated.

Reference period of change - February 2017

Beginning with the release of data for the January 2017 reference period, Statistics Canada has updated the Large Monthly Retailers panel to improve industry coverage, and to ensure the membership better reflects the retail sector.

The commodity data from the Large Monthly Retailers panel are collected via the Monthly Retail Trade Survey questionnaire, which moved to an electronic questionnaire method in mid-2016. The data are collected using a new classification system, the North American Product Classification System, NAPCS.

Reference period of change - January 2017

Beginning with the release of data for the January 2017 reference period, Statistics Canada has updated the Large Monthly Retailers panel to improve industry coverage, and to ensure the membership better reflects the retail sector.

The commodity data from the Large Monthly Retailers panel are collected via the Monthly Retail Trade Survey questionnaire, which moved to an electronic questionnaire method in mid-2016. The data are collected using a new classification system, the North American Product Classification System, NAPCS.

Reference period of change - February 2012

Unadjusted monthly data were revised back to January 2011. The revisions take into account late reporting and correction of respondent information.

Reference period of change - December 2010

The list of retailers included in the Monthly Survey of Large Retailers has been updated effective with the December 2010 reference period.

Reference period of change - November 2007

Sampling - The list of retailers included in the Monthly Survey of Large Retailers has been updated effective with the November 2007 reference period.

Reference period of change - December 2004

The recently redesigned collection facility for the survey has the flexibility to allow the addition of up to three supplementary questions in any month. The questions can be of three types: yes/no; a dollar value or count; or free form text.

For the December 2004 reference period, two supplementary questions about business experience with gift cards were asked:
1 - Did your business offer gift cards for sale during the recent Christmas holiday season?
2 - Did your business offer gift cards for sale during the 2003 Christmas holiday season?

Reference period of change - February 2004

The list of retailers included in the Monthly Survey of Large Retailers has been updated effective with the February 2004 reference period.