09:07 AM EST, 02/19/2025 (MT Newswires) -- RBC said it expects Canadian retail sales to rise by 1.6% month over month in December, in line with Statistics Canada's preliminary estimate, as holiday spending got a boost from the Federal tax holiday, said RBC.

Canada is slated to publish December retail sales on Friday, at 8:30 a.m. ET.

In January, there were signs that spending was pared back, noted the bank. Unit auto sales were also weaker in the same month -- RBC expects the advance estimate will show slower spending at the start of 2025.