Canadians projected to spend an average of CAD$1,507 this holiday season

80% of Canadians will spend the same or more than last year

• 58% are likely to shop with local/independent retailers this holiday season
• 49% expect free delivery within three to five business days
• 53% will learn about brands and gifts from television, closely followed by 51% by word of mouth.
• 47% will take vacation in Canada and the remainder is evenly split between the US and international destinations.

TORONTO, Oct. 11, 2017 /CNW/ - According to key findings in PwC Canada's 2017 Holiday Outlook, Canadian consumers will spend an average of CAD$1,507 this holiday season, with the majority of their spending focused on travel and gifts, and the remaining amount intended for entertainment.

"Canadians are optimistic about the positive economic outlook and are confident about their spending habits. We can expect the biggest spending increase to come from Generation Z and millennial parents," says Sonia Boisvert, Partner and National Retail and Consumer Leader at PwC Canada.

For the majority of Canadians (62%), price is still the main factor when it comes to purchasing a gift, followed by promotion and deals (37%), and free shipping (35%). Canadians plan to carry out (62%) of their holiday shopping in-store while online shopping accounts for the remainder. For the online shopper, Amazon is the top choice this holiday season for Canadians (77%) planning to shop at the online retailer. The report also highlights that almost half of Canadians (48%) will complete their holiday shopping after Black Friday, taking advantage of the sales and promotions.

"When it comes to shopping this holiday season, Canadian consumers still believe that price is king and they are looking for convenience in terms of how they shop," adds Boisvert. "The in-store experience is still important. Retailers need to make sure they have enough inventory in-store and online if they want to make the most of the busiest retail season of the year."

The report also finds that close to half of consumers (46%) are planning to buy physical gifts such as apparel, toys, personal electronics and alcohol. By contrast, Canadians (42%) would like to receive gift cards this holiday season.

Canadians considered Facebook to be the most influential (47%), followed by YouTube (29%) and Pinterest (26%). In addition, Canadians are more likely to make a purchase if a product is promoted by a social media influencer, who taps into their core values, rather than undertaking an activity that's viewed as sponsored by a brand or corporation.

Click here to access the full report.

About PwC Canada
At PwC, our purpose is to build trust in society and solve important problems. More than 6,700 partners and staff in offices across the country are committed to delivering quality in assurance, tax, consulting and deals services. PwC Canada is a member of the PwC network of firms with more than 223,000 people in 157 countries. Find out more by visiting us at www.pwc.com/ca.

© 2017 PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, an Ontario limited liability partnership. All rights reserved.

PwC refers to the Canadian member firm, and may sometimes refer to the PwC network. Each member firm is a separate legal entity. Please see http://www.pwc.com/structure for further details.

SOURCE PwC (PricewaterhouseCoopers)