Whether shopping for Christmas presents or shopping for groceries on New Year’s Eve, Canadians will be especially on the lookout for discounts during holiday shopping this year — to weather the fierce inflation that is engulfing part of their purchasing power.
About 6 in 10 Canadians say they are affected by the current difficult financial situation, but most would stick to the same budget they set for themselves last year, namely $790, according to a new Leger poll conducted for the account. of the Retail Council of Canada (RCDC) to 2,500 Canadians. True to form, Quebecers would expect to spend less than the Canadian average, with an amount of $588.
After two years of festivities tarnished by the pandemic, “Quebecers are eager to rediscover the magic of the Holidays,” said Michel Rochette, president for Quebec of the Retail Council of Canada. “Financial concerns are very present, but Quebecers seem determined not to alter their celebrations this year,” he assesses, in light of the report.
To be able to have fun, however, consumers will be on the lookout for bargains.
According to the report, more than half of consumers (54%) across the country plan to spend more time researching holiday shopping deals. Among the other solutions they are considering to limit their spending, Canadians plan to shop less and find other ways to give gifts (27%), they will go to discount stores more than in the past ( 27%), and they will plan (24%) and start shopping earlier (23%).
Post-pandemic habits
Shopping habits, which had changed dramatically due to the pandemic, are stabilizing, the report also notes. Consumers plan to split their in-store (63%) and online (37%) spending in the same way as in 2021. Even if the trend for online shopping is less strong than in the midst of the pandemic (42 %), it remains much higher than it was five years ago (26%).
As in recent years, consumers will also be planning ahead for their purchases. While nearly a quarter of consumers planned to start their purchases in September or October, November remains the month favored by Canadians to devote themselves to holiday shopping. Among other things, Black Friday (November 25) and Cyber Monday (November 28) should once again be very busy this year, according to the CCCD.