Mall goer shopping for earrings at the Metis Market (Photo credits – Daniel Barker-Tremblay)
Canadian shoppers are heading into the holiday season with their wallets a little tighter.
That’s especially true here on the Prairies.
A new survey of more than 1,000 Canadian consumers found people across Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba plan to spend an average of $1,261 on gifts, travel and entertainment this holiday season.
That’s an 18 per cent drop from last year, the biggest regional decline in Canada.
Travel is taking the biggest hit, with many Canadians planning to stay closer to home or stay with friends and family to save some money.
Overall, 75 per cent of Canadians say they’re taking steps to stretch their holiday budgets, while 69 per cent plan to choose less expensive alternatives.
That means shoppers will be watching for sales and promotions and timing their purchases around big shopping events like Black Friday and December deals.
Households with children are still planning to spend considerably more than households without kids. Parents are also putting more emphasis on experiences and hands-on activities for their kids, rather than simply buying more stuff.
Survey: PwC Canada’s 2026 Canadian holiday outlook.
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