Canadian Tire reported sales up 2.4% in the fourth quarter to C$3.1bn (£1.96bn), while net earnings rocketed 88.2% to C$181.1m (£114.6m). Sales at its Canadian Tire Retail division, which comprises mainly company-owned and operated stores, increased 0.5%. Like-for-like sales declined 0.4%. Adjusted earnings before taxes at Canadian Tire Retail soared 82.3%. The increase in earnings is primarily due to lower interest costs and several positive margin impacts from a number of items, including lower product acquisition costs.