Return in force of holiday shopping in person

Army of bags while walking at the Yorkdale Center in Toronto, Linda Arnone told us that she plans to spend a few thousand more dollars during the holiday season.Gifts, decorations, outings and Christmas meals explain this increase, without forgetting the upcoming arrival of a newborn in the family.

Pierre Yongco estimates, for his part, that he will spend a few hundred dollars more than last year.As stores were closed on such a date, he explains that the vast majority of his purchases had been made online.

Last year, we haven't really made big Christmas and New Year's dosage, but this year, it's coded. Il y aura des cadeaux de Noël pour toute la famille, c'est clair, et puis ça va coûter, affirme le Torontois.

Higher holiday expenses

Recent polls presage a sharp increase in spending - up to 31 % compared to the holiday season in 2020.

According to a study by the JLL Canada firm, Canadians will spend an average of $ 473 on gifts, an increase of 11 % compared to last year.Their budget for other holidays related to holidays - including packaging of gifts, decorations and food - will increase by around 15 % to reach $ 262 on average.

I think many people are tanned to be at home and order online stuff. Il y a un réel engouement à revenir en magasin, affirme le directeur national au commerce de détail pour JLL Canada, Tim Sanderson.

The real estate firm also notes an increase in traffic in shopping centers across the country.

The Yorkdale Center, in the north of Toronto, says that the number of visitors is back at prepaidic levels. Les ventes de nos détaillants s’améliorent de semaine en semaine. Les gens semblent aussi s’y prendre plus tôt cette année, affirme le directeur William Correia.

I think some fear stock breaks and maybe also crowds.So we see a lot of customers shopping early, at different times of the week, not only on weekends.

The Toronto Christmas market, in the historic distillery district, welcomes tens of thousands of visitors every day.

Our opening weekend has sold out complete.All tickets have sold like hot rolls, says spokeswoman Nadine Singh.People clearly wanted to come back.

The organizers had to cancel the event last year due to the confinement that was in force in the Queen city.The Gotstyle clothing store, located in this sector, has already benefited for a few weeks from the massive return of customers.

And sales are accelerating as the holidays approach, she adds. En magasinant pour leurs proches, les clients en profitent aussi pour s’acheter de nouveaux vêtements.Some have not bought anything in two years.

Une tempête parfaite

Another factor is added to the increase in holidays: inflation, which grows the cost of gifts and the grocery basket.The annual rate climbed to 4.7 % last October, unheard of since February 2003.

Tim Sanderson de JLL Canada affirme que l’inflation est le résultat d’une tempête parfaite au sein de l’économie canadienne.

The supply chains are upset worldwide.It's hard to put the products on the shelves and put fleas in our cars and electronic products. Sans mentionner les intempéries en Colombie-Britannique et le goulot d’étranglement au port là-bas, qui font que les marchandises ne peuvent arriver à destination, explique-t-il.

He also mentions the shortage of labor, which pushes many employers to offer significant wages to try to attract and hold workers.This phenomenon, according to him, contributes to inflation, if companies pass the invoice to the consumer.