Statistics Canada reported that Canadian retail sales increased 0.1 percent after two months of declines. June’s retail sales increased slightly as falling gasoline prices partly offset strong demand for vehicles, household goods and building materials. Analysts had expected sales to rise 0.4 percent. Statscan also revised its May figures to show a decline of 0.4 percent instead of the decline of 0.2 percent as initially reported. The good news was sales volume, which jumped 0.9 percent. Consumer spending was the driving force behind Canada’s rapid recovery from a mild recession, with growth averaging 5.5 percent, annualized, over the previous two quarters. That pace is expected to slow to about 2.5 percent in the second quarter. The Bank of Canada anticipated a cooling of consumer spending into its outlook and is unlikely to alter its interest rates. The central bank raised its rate in both June and July. The market is split on its next move on Sept. 8, but primary securities dealers expect it to lift rates again to a reasonable 1.0 percent.