Statistics Canada's retail numbers for August 2026 came out October 23. Sales at new car dealers rose 1.5% from July, after falling 1.4% in July. Used car dealers went the other way, down 0.5%. Total retail sales rose 1.2% to $74.6 billion, and Ontario had the biggest provincial gain in dollar terms, up 2.2%. Statistics Canada, The Daily
New-car demand is holding up. July's dip was a pause, not a turn. That matters if you're hoping the end of the year brings big new-car discounts. When dealers are selling, the programs don't have to get much richer.
The used number is the one I'd watch. It's one month, and 0.5% is small. But it fits what I covered on October 17: wholesale values at auction were already easing. When dealers pay less at auction and sell fewer units off the lot, they get more willing to move on price for a car that's been sitting.
My prediction: Statistics Canada's September 2026 retail release will show sales at new car dealers up again from August. StatCan's own early estimate already has total September retail sales up 0.7%, and nothing in August's split points to new-car demand rolling over. I'm wrong if that release shows new car dealer sales down from August.
If you're buying right now: on a new Honda, shop the current program, not a hoped-for year-end fire sale. Check this month's Honda deals before you decide to wait. On a used one, you have a little more room to ask. Pick a specific car, like the ones on today's best pre-owned Honda list, and ask for an itemized price on that one.
Quick answers
Did new car sales go up in Canada in August 2026?
Yes. Statistics Canada's retail trade release for August 2026, published October 23, shows sales at new car dealers rose 1.5% from July, after a 1.4% drop in July. Total retail sales rose 1.2% to $74.6 billion.
Are used car dealer sales falling in Canada?
In August 2026, sales at used car dealers fell 0.5% from July, according to Statistics Canada, while new car dealers rose 1.5%. One month is not a trend, but it lines up with softer used wholesale values reported in October.
What does the August retail data mean for Honda buyers in Ontario?
New-car demand held up, so don't count on deep new-car discounts just because the year is ending. On the used side, softer dealer sales give a cash or finance buyer a bit more room to ask for a better price on a specific car.
Weighing new against used?
Tell me your budget and how long you keep a car. I'll lay a new Honda and a Certified one side by side so you can see the real gap.
Ask Henry a question
Get a straight answer on inventory, pricing, lease vs buy, or trade value. I reply myself.