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The agency said sales in six of eight sectors were up, with clothing and accessories leading with 2.8-percent growth. There was a 1.9-percent increase in sales by the gasoline stations trade group, along with a 1.8-percent increase in general merchandise, StatsCan said.

Overall, "retail sales have generally been rising at a rapid pace since 2004", the agency said.

Despite six provinces posting lower retail sales in April, national sales were shored by a strong 3.4-percent increase in Quebec, without whose gain would have meant a slight decline in the national level, the report said.

All of the western provinces posted lower retail sales in April, which the agency attributed to weak new motor vehicle sales.

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