Retail sales in Newfoundland and Labrador are expected to be strong this holiday season.

That’s according to Vice President Atlantic with the Retail Council of Canada, Jim Cormier. He says inflation is hitting consumers and retail sales were down slightly in September, with some mixed results in certain sectors.

Back-to-school clothes shopping was up, but things like garden supplies were down as a greater number of people went back into the workplace after an extended period of working from home through the pandemic.

Cormier says from what he’s hearing, retailers are pleasantly surprised with continued brisk activity leading into the holiday season, despite rising costs due to inflation.

He says they expected sales to drop off the proverbial cliff, “but that hasn’t happened.”