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 $196 billion.
The Big Three
Weston Group (Loblaw), Wal-Mart, and Empire Co. (Sobey’s) rung up 23.9% of retail sales* in 2011.
*Non-automotive
Ontario Tops in Big Box Centres
In 2010, Ontario had the most power centres in Canada (211), almost triple the number of centres found in Quebec (74), Alberta (73) and British Columbia (70).
Annual Retail sales in Canada
Year | Retail Sales ($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