October’s retail sales missed expectations, falling 0.2% M/M on a 0.6% drop in volumes.

An ~11% drop in alcohol retailers drove a 2% decline in food and beverage sales, which more than offset a recovery in sales of motor vehicles and parts…

… which helped results in Ontario stabilize, while other key provinces were weaker versus September.

That weakness looks set to reverse in November, with preliminary estimates calling for a 1.2% improvement.