Albertans spent more money on average in 2006 than any one else in the country, reflecting that province's strong resource economy, Statistics Canada said Tuesday.

On average, each Canadian household spent $48,770 on goods and services, up 4.6 per cent from 2005. This was more than double the country's two per cent inflation rate.

The bulk of that spending was for personal taxes, shelter and transportation, according to Statistics Canada's survey of household spending.

In Alberta, home of the booming oil patch, households spent an average $59,740, or 14 per cent more for goods and services in 2006 than they did in 2005. That represents the largest year-over-year increase for one province ever recorded by the survey.

Prince Edward Island showed the second largest growth at eight per cent from the previous year. Saskatchewan and Quebec also reported growth above the national average.

Lowest average household spending in N.L.

The slowest growth in spending was in Manitoba, where it rose by only one per cent, and in Ontario, where it grew by just under two per cent.

Newfoundland and Labrador reported the lowest average household spending on goods and services in 2006 at $39,520.

While personal taxes increased slightly to an average of $13,630, that figure represented just 20 per cent of the average household budget — the lowest share since 1992.

Spending on shelter rose five per cent to an average of $12,990, mostly because of a 14 per cent rise in Alberta, seven per cent in Saskatchewan and six per cent in British Columbia.

While Canadian households spent an average of $9,240 on transportation — including spending for vehicle purchases and air travel — those in Alberta spent an average of $12,160 on transportation. Spending on vehicle purchases alone was up 22 per cent over the previous year in that province.

Spending on air travel increased by 22 per cent to $530 per Canadian household while spending for city commuter bus, subway and other means of public transport rose by 11 per cent to $220.