Canadians to shell out an average of $1,447 on holiday spending: poll
Last Updated: Friday, December 14, 2007 | 11:08 AM ET
CBC News
Consumers say they'll be digging a little deeper this season, spending an average of $1,447 on holiday expenses, according to a poll by the Retail Council of Canada.
In 2006, consumers said they expected to spend $1,310 on holiday gifts, travel, decorations and entertainment.
The poll, which surveyed 2,600 participants from Nov. 27 to Nov. 30, found that 94 per cent of Canadians planned on giving gifts, budgeting an average of $733. British Columbians planned to spend the most on presents at $950 while Quebecers expected to spend the least at $552.
The poll found men will spend an average of $791 on Christmas shopping, compared to the average of $682 spent by women.
The survey also found 97 per cent of shoppers planned to rely on bricks and mortar stores. The number of shoppers who planned to do some shopping online has increased to 43 per cent, up five per cent from last year.
About 29 per cent of Canadians planned to buy cash-loaded gift cards, representing a jump of 10 per cent over the past two years, according to the poll.
Corrections and Clarifications
- Canadian consumers say they'll be spending an average of $1,447 on all holiday expenses this season, not just on gifts as originally reported. Dec. 14, 2007|11:30 a.m. ET
Share Tools
Top News Headlines
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- The victim of a Friday lightning strike during a storm in east Ottawa has died, CBC News has learned. more »
- Montreal protesters march in peaceful defiance
- The clanging of pots and pans sounded throughout Montreal's downtown core Saturday night and into early Sunday morning, as thousands of protesters marched on in peaceful — but loud — defiance of Bill 78. more »
- Syrian children massacred by the dozens, UN says
- More than 90 people have been killed by regime forces in a district of central Syria, with the head of the UN team in the country confirming at least 32 children and 60 adults were killed in an artillery attack. more »
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
- Two Winnipeg children reported missing and possibly in Mexico have been found alive, according to unofficial reports from an agency that works to find missing people. more »
- Teen struck by lightning in Ottawa dies
- Missing Winnipeg children found in Mexico
- Quebec tornadoes cause millions in damage
- Everest team unable to bring down Toronto woman's body
- Pope's butler arrested in Vatican leaks scandal
- Woman's remains found in hockey bag on Cape Breton river
- Syrian children massacred by the dozens, UN says
- WWE apologizes to Brazil over Canadian's flag stomp
- What a Greek euro exit could mean for Canada
