ISTANBUL

Retail sales in Canada fell 0.4% month-on-month in February, as the tariff issue continue to sow uncertainty, according to data released Friday.

Sales in February totaled 69.3 billion Canadian dollars ($49.9 billion), and the monthly change figure matched the market forecast of a 0.4% fall, Statistics Canada said Friday.

Sales were down in four of nine subsectors, led by decreases at motor vehicle and parts dealers, which fell 2.6% monthly.

"Sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors (+0.3%) increased in February for a fifth consecutive month. In volume terms, sales at gasoline stations and fuel vendors increased 0.8%," it said.

Core retail sales, which exclude gas stations and car dealers, were up 0.5% in February. Sales in this subsector were up on gains at supermarkets and other grocery retailers, which rose 3.7% in February after falling 3.2% in January.

In an advance estimate, the statistics office added that retail sales in March would show a monthly rise of 0.7%.

US President Donald Trump's higher tariffs continue to cause uncertainty, as on April 2 he imposed tariffs of 10-50% on over 180 countries.

He later postponed those tariffs and reduced the tariff rate to 10% for all countries except China, while eventually raising its tariff to up to 245%.

Uncertainty over the frequently shifting US tariffs and worries of an intensified trade war continue to rock global markets and economies.