Happy Holidays

By 250 News

    The shopping frenzy is underway as the clock ticks towards the big day.

So  this week, Opinion 250 looks at some numbers (provided by Stats Canada)  on our shopping habits:

$36.8 billion — The amount of money Canadian shoppers spent in December 2005, up 6.6% from December 2004.

$845 — The average amount each Canadian consumer spent in December 2005. This was almost $250 more than was spent on average during any other month. Albertans were the biggest spenders, spending $1,061 during the month, followed by shoppers in Yukon and the Northwest Territories.

Three times — The number of times by which toy, hobby and games store sales grew in December 2005 compared with an average month. Other stores enjoying triple sales growth during December 2005 were jewellery, luggage and leather goods stores and music stores.

One-fifth — The proportion of annual revenue generated by toy and hobby stores during December 2005. Retailers who specialize in sales of sound and video recordings (DVDs and CDs) also took in one-fifth of their annual revenue during the month. $3.1 billion — The value of food (excluding pet food, meals and lunches) purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2005, up 22% from average monthly sales of $2.5 billion for this category in 2005.

What did we spend all our money on?

$347.6 million —  candy, confectionery and snack foods purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2005, up 68% from the average monthly sales of $206.4 million in 2005.

$200.4 million —  cosmetics and fragrances purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2005, up 124% from the average monthly sales of $89.4 million in 2005.

$1.2 billion — T home electronics, computers and cameras purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2005, up 132% from the average monthly sales of $509.3 million in 2005.

$402.9 million — The value of toys, games and hobby supplies, including electronic games, purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2005, up 220% from the average monthly sales of $126.1 million in 2005.

$244.3 million — The value of pre-recorded CDs, DVDs and video and audio tapes purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2005, up 152% from the average monthly sales of $97.1 million in 2005.

$17.6 million — The value of giftware, novelties and souvenirs purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2005, up 280% from the average monthly sales of $4.6 million in 2005.

$150.9 million — The value of stationery, office supplies, cards, gift wrap and party supplies purchased at large retailers in Canada in December 2005, up 107% from the average monthly sales of $72.8 million in 2005.

$1.9 billion — The value of sales at beer, wine and liquor stores in Canada in December 2005. This was an increase of 62% from the previous month, and up 54% over the annual monthly average of $1.2 billion in 2005.

$1.5 billion — The value of sales at sporting goods, hobby, music and book stores in December 2005. This was up 71% from the previous month and up 84% from the monthly average of $788.6 million in 2005.

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