
Kelowna is the major retail and business center for the BC Interior and offers virtually every type of retail experience – from boutique specialty stores to national chains. Orchard Park Shopping Center is the largest shopping center between Calgary and Vancouver offering over 150 shops and services.
Additional information on the retail and wholesale industry can be found in our Economic Profile.
Wholesale & Retail Sector
| Year |
RDCOTotal Sales |
% Change |
B.C.Total Sales |
% Change |
| 1990 |
$936.6 |
n/a |
$24,200.0 |
N/A |
| 1991 |
$912.8 |
(2.5%) |
$23,537.0 |
(2.7%) |
| 1992 |
$972.9 |
6.6% |
$24,433.0 |
3.8% |
| 1993 |
$981.4 |
0.9% |
$26,348.0 |
7.8% |
| 1994 |
$1,018.9 |
3.8% |
$29,032.0 |
10.2% |
| 1995 |
$1,021.8 |
0.3% |
$30,837.0 |
6.2% |
| 1996 |
$1,058.4 |
3.6% |
$31,252.0 |
1.3% |
| 1997 |
$1,098.8 |
3.8% |
$32,848.0 |
5.1% |
| 1999 |
$1,401.4 |
27.5% |
$34,881.8 |
6.2% |
| 2000 |
$1,477.5 |
5.4% |
$37,437.7 |
7.3% |
| 2001 |
$1,845.9 |
25.0% |
$36,141.4 |
(3.5%) |
| 2002 |
$1,761.3 |
(4.6%) |
$39,321.1 |
8.8% |
| 2003 |
$1,904.0 |
8.1% |
$42,184.2 |
7.3% |
Source:Financial Post Survey of Canadian Markets 1997/98, 2000 & 2001,2002, 2003 Financial Post Canadian Demographics
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The table below breaks down the estimated retail sales by expenditure in 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 and 2003.
| Item |
1999 |
2000 |
2001 |
2002 |
2003 |
| Groceries |
$309.7 |
$297.7 |
$343.4 |
$282.8 |
$329.0 |
| Other Food |
$30.0 |
$51.1 |
$25.5 |
$24.3 |
$25.2 |
| Women's Clothing |
$36.8 |
$22.9 |
$27.2 |
$26.2 |
$24.9 |
| Men's Clothing |
$17.4 |
$11.5 |
$6.1 |
$8.4 |
$9.4 |
| Other Clothing |
$31.3 |
$36.2 |
$44.8 |
$52.0 |
$40.9 |
| Shoes |
$12.8 |
$4.9 |
$9.3 |
$11.4 |
$9.7 |
| Motor vehicles & recreation vehicles |
$237.2 |
$244.7 |
$516.1 |
$506.1 |
$601.2 |
| Gasoline, automotive services |
$93.4 |
$142.0 |
$118.0 |
$123.5 |
$135.2 |
| Auto parts and accessories |
$102.1 |
$122.2 |
$91.0 |
$85.6 |
$82.8 |
| Household furnishings |
$30.2 |
$37.1 |
$84.9 |
$82.1 |
$92.8 |
| Household Furniture & Appliances |
$117.2 |
$73.6 |
$26.3 |
$21.0 |
$17.9 |
| Other durable goods |
$64.9 |
$70.9 |
$72.5 |
$52.6 |
$57.7 |
| Other semi-durable goods |
$71.7 |
$70.8 |
$66.2 |
$52.3 |
$46.3 |
| General merchandise |
$70.5 |
$143.6 |
$258.7 |
$279.7 |
$288.0 |
| Pharmaceuticals, medicine, etc. |
$75.4 |
$80.4 |
$74.9 |
$73.9 |
$62.6 |
| All other retail |
$100.8 |
$67.8 |
$80.8 |
$80.8 |
$80.3 |
| Total |
$1,401.4 |
$1,441.5 |
$1,845.9 |
$1,761.3 |
$1,904.0 |
Source: 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002, 2003 Financial Post Survey of Canadian Markets
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