Statistics Canada reveals spending data
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Shelter and transportation together took almost half of the average Canadian household’s spending last year according to a new analysis from Statistics Canada.
The agency reveals that the average Canadian household spent $63,723 on goods and services, up 2.5% from the previous year. Those in Alberta ($72,957) and BC ($71,001) spent the most.
Shelter accounted for 29.2% of total consumption (average $18,637), a rise of 3.4% year-over-year; followed by transportation (19.9%) and food (13.4%).
Two in every three Canadians owned their own home, more than half with a mortgage. Those with mortgages spent an average $25,904 on their principal residence while renters spent $13,499, and homeowners without a mortgage spent $9,642.
Lower incomes vs top incomes
The 20% of Canadian households with the lowest incomes spent an average $33,764 on goods and services compared to $105,493 for the top 20%.
Those with the lowest incomes also spent a larger-than-average share of their consumption of goods on shelter at 34.8%, while those with the highest incomes spent a below-average 27.4% of their consumption on shelter.
Among the territorial capitals, average spending on goods and services was highest in Iqaluit ($94,396) and Yellowknife ($93,354) and lowest in Whitehorse ($67,701).
