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The increase was the seventh month-over-month gain in eight months and would have been 0.1 percent had it not been for gas sales, which were up 2.4 percent, the agency said. During May, gas prices rose 8.8 percent.

Of eight sectors, sales were up in five, led by the automotive sector, which increased 1.1 percent in May, the report said.

Sales in the building and outdoor home supplies stores sector rose 0.7 percent.

The most pronounced drop among the three sectors where sales didn't increase was clothing and accessories stores, which were down by 0.7 percent, StatsCan said.

Regionally, retail sales increased in eight provinces in May, led by Saskatchewan, where sales rose 1.8 percent. Newfoundland/Labrador had the largest decline of 1.2 percent, which the agency attributed to slower sales at car dealerships.

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