Key Facts from Industry Canada’s Consumer Trends Update

Image of info graphic Key Facts from Industry Canada’s Consumer Trends Update

Key Facts from
Industry Canada’s
Consumer Trends Update

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Important Role in the Economy

$457.4 billion in sales and 12% of Canada’s workforce in 2011.

Canada-U.S. Sales Neck-and-Neck

In 2011, per capita retail sales in Canada were about $13,000, matching U.S. levels for the first time.

Less Space, More Sales

Canadian malls average about $600 in sales per square foot annually compared to about $400 in the U.S.

More Foreign-Owned Retailers

Half of the top retail companies in Canada were foreign owned and totalled about 40% of retail sales* in 2011.

Concentration at the Top

The top 30 retail companies ring up about two-thirds of all retail sales* in Canada, about $196 billion.

The Big Three

Weston Group (Loblaw), Wal-Mart, and Empire Co. (Sobey’s) rung up 23.9% of retail sales* in 2011.

*Non-automotive

Ontario Tops in Big Box Centres

In 2010, Ontario had the most power centres in Canada (211), almost triple the number of centres found in Quebec (74), Alberta (73) and British Columbia (70).

Annual Retail sales in Canada

Annual Retail sales in Canada (2006–2011)
Year Retail Sales ($billions)
2006 390.5
2007 413.7
2008 429.1
2009 416.7
2010 439.5
2011 457.4

Read the Consumer Trends Update on Canada’s Changing Retail Market at: www.ic.gc.ca/consumertrends