Statistics Canada says retail sales rose 0.4 percent 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 three percent for the month.
The move higher for the subsector came as supermarkets and other grocery retailers, except convenience retailers, rose 3.3 percent and sales at beer, wine and liquor retailers added 4.4 percent.
Core retail sales, which exclude gasoline stations and fuel vendors and motor vehicle and parts dealers, gained 1.4 percent in September.
In volume terms, retail sales rose 0.8 percent in September.
Looking ahead, Statistics Canada says its advance retail sales estimate for October suggests sales increased 0.7 percent, though it cautioned the figure would be revised.
