Tiny January gain for Canadian retail OTTAWA, March 22 (UPI) -- Canadian retail sales edged up in January by 0.5 percent to $38.9 billion on the back of the automotive sector, Statistics Canada reported Thursday. Excluding automotive, retail sales in the 10 other sectors were down 0.5 percent, the report said. The 4.6 percent monthly gain for new car dealers was their highest growth rate in three years. Gains elsewhere in the sector were also reported by parts dealers, user car dealers and tire stores, the agency reported. "General merchandise store sales rose 1.7 percent in January, more than offsetting a decline in December," StatsCan said. After four consecutive monthly declines, sales at department stores increased 2.1 percent. The largest sector decline was for building material and garden equipment, which posted a 5.2 percent monthly downturn after recording a 4 percent increase a month earlier.