By Paul Vieira 



  OTTAWA--Canadian retail sales rebounded in May, reflecting pent-up demand once jurisdictions across the country began relaxing restrictions meant to contain the spread of the new coronavirus. 


  Retail sales climbed 18.7% in May from the previous month to a seasonally adjusted 41.79 billion Canadian dollars ($30.86 billion), Statistics Canada said Tuesday, following a revised 25% plunge in the previous month. 


  Market expectations were for a 22% climb, according to economists at Bank of Nova Scotia. 


  Even with the sizable jump in May, Canadian retail sales remain 20% below February levels, or before economic restrictions kicked in to contain Covid-19. 


  In volume, or price-adjusted, terms, May retail sales jumped 17.8% from the previous month. 


  Statistics Canada also issued an early estimate for June, saying it anticipates an increase of 24.5% month-over-month to cap off the second quarter. 


  The data agency said sales in May were up in 10 out of 11 subsectors tracked, with motor vehicle and parts dealers, general merchandise stores, and clothing making the biggest upward contributions. Excluding the auto component, retail sales rose 10.6%. 


  Write to Paul Vieira at paul.vieira@wsj.com