Canadian retail sales disappoint in June as consumers take pause

By Leah Schnurr OTTAWA (Reuters) - Canadian retail sales unexpectedly fell in June, reinforcing expectations that growth contracted in the second quarter as the economic malaise hit the consumer, who has been a key pillar of support in recent years. Separately, the annual inflation rate cooled as expected in July, according to data released by Statistics Canada on Friday, pulled down by cheaper gasoline prices, even as the cost of food and shelter climbed. The 0.1 percent decline in June retail