08:05 AM EST, 02/20/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Canada will publish retail sales for December and preliminary data for January at 8:30 a.m. ET on Friday, said Scotiabank.

Retail sales are expected to be soft for December based on earlier guidance of 0.5% month-over-month lower seasonally adjusted, but the preliminary flash estimate for January's sales may matter more, stated the bank.

Harsher-than-usual winter weather could be a downside risk, added Scotiabank.