Monthly Retail Trade Survey (R8)

Introduction

Purpose

The Monthly Retail Trade Survey collects sales and the number of retail locations by province and territory from a sample of retailers.

Additional information

Confidential when completed

Collected under the authority of the Statistics Act, revised Statutes of Canada, 1985, Chapter S-19.

Purpose

This survey provides information to measure the health and economic performance of the retail sector and the Canadian economy. The business community uses the data to analyze market performance and developments. The statistical summaries are published in Catalogue 63-005-XIE, available at http://www.statcan.gc.ca

Confidentiality

Your answers are confidential.
The Statistics Act protects the confidentiality of information collected by Statistics Canada.
Statistics Canada is prohibited by law from releasing any information it collects which could identify any person, business, or organization, unless consent has been given by the respondent or as permitted by the Statistics Act.
Statistics Canada will use information from this survey for statistical purposes.

Data-sharing agreements

To reduce respondent burden, Statistics Canada has entered into data sharing agreements with provincial and territorial statistical agencies and other government organizations, which must keep the data confidential and use them only for statistical purposes. A list of the organizations with which Statistics Canada has data-sharing agreements with will be sent to you on an occasional basis.

Record linkage

To enhance the data from this survey, Statistics Canada may combine it with information from other surveys or from administrative sources.

Security of emails and faxes

Statistics Canada advises you that there could be a risk of disclosure during facsimile or other electronic transmission. However, upon receipt, Statistics Canada will provide the guaranteed level of protection afforded all information collected under the authority of the Statistics Act.

Assistance

If you require assistance to complete the survey or have any questions,
please contact Statistics Canada toll-free at 1-877-992-3999 (Quebec)
or 1-800-316-5354 (elsewhere in Canada) or fax us at 1-888-883-7999.

Definitions

CMA - Census Metropolitan Area:
A Census Metropolitan Area is comprised of the continuous built-up area of an urban centre and its surrounding municipalities. It is usually known by the name of its largest city.

Sales conducted over the Internet with or without online payment: It includes all sales of your business' goods or services where the order is received, and the commitment to purchase is made via the Internet, although payment can be made by other means. Include orders made in web pages, extranet or Electronic Data Interchange (EDI). Exclude orders made by telephone calls, facsimile, or e-mail.

Instructions

- Report all dollar amounts in CANADIAN DOLLARS ($ CDN).
- Exclude: GST, HST, PST and TVQ.
- When precise figures are not available, please provide your best
estimates.

Sales, Commissions and Other Receipts:
Report sales, commissions and other receipts during the reporting period.

Include:
- Sales of all goods purchased for resale, net of returns and discounts
(Do not deduct the value of trade-ins.)
- Commissions revenue and fees earned from selling goods and services on
account of others, such as selling lottery tickets, bus tickets, and phone
cards (Do not report the value of sales.)
- Parts and labour revenue from repair and maintenance
- Revenue from rental and leasing of goods and equipment
- Revenue from services, including food services
- Sales of goods manufactured as a secondary activity
- Proprietor's withdrawals, at retail, of goods for personal use

Exclude:
- Revenue from rental of real estate, placement fees, operating subsidies,
grants, royalties and franchise fees
- Non-operating revenue such as interest and dividends

Number of Retail Locations:
Report the maximum number of retail locations, by geographic area, where business activity was conducted during the reporting period. Include all locations engaged in the retail sale of merchandise.

Reporting Period

Sales, Commissions and Other Receipts

Sales of Goods or Services via the Internet

Significant Changes in Data