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Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.4% to $66.9 billion in September, helped by gains at supermarkets and other grocery stores.

The agency says sales at food and beverage retailers increased 3% for the month.

The move higher for the subsector came as supermarkets and other grocery retailers, except convenience retailers, rose 3.3% and sales at beer, wine and liquor retailers added 4.4%.

Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, gained 1.4% in September.

In volume terms, retail sales rose 0.8% in September.

Looking ahead, Statistics Canada says its advance retail sales estimate for October suggests sales increased 0.7%, though it cautioned the figure would be revised.