Despite some levelling off of growth in 2018, P.E.I. retailers have maintained sales at more than $200 million a month since October, Statistics Canada reports.

Seasonally adjusted sales on the Island had strong growth throughout 2017, and peaked at an adjusted value of $204.5 million in January.

Sales slipped in the first few months of the year, but stayed above that $200 million mark first passed in October.

The summer months saw a recovery, and August 2018 sales — at $204.1 still short of the January record — were 5.1 per cent higher than August 2017. Nationally the annual sales growth was 3.5 per cent.