Consumer Trends

Consumer Trends Report
provides a general overview of past and current economic and marketplace trends of relevance to consumers, and points to research gaps for future work by the consumer affairs community

Consumer Trends Updates

provides brief reports on research or policy developments related to themes explored in the 2005 Consumer Trends Report

Summer 2013

• Canada's Changing Retail Market
  This update highlights the structural changes experienced in the Canadian retail landscape since The Consumer Trends Report was released in 2005. The major actors operating within this retail sector and the impact of shifting consumer behaviour on the evolution of retail operations in Canada are also discussed.

Spring 2013

• An Overview of Academic Consumer Interest Research in Canada
  This Consumer Trends Update provides an overview of the status of academic consumer interest research (CIR), from a Canadian perspective. It first presents the challenges inherent to defining CIR and discusses the field's linkages to consumer policy-making. This is followed by some observations on the current state of academic CIR in Canada. Models of CIR-related academic networking activities are then presented as examples of how academic CIR can develop and contribute to policy-making. Such academic CIR contributions deserve further and sustained attention by all partners in the consumer policy community.

Winter 2010

• Mobile Commerce — New Experiences, Emerging Consumer Issues
  This Update describes the main types of mobile commerce applications available to Canadian consumers, and discusses emerging consumer protection issues, as well as a number of policy initiatives, in light of experiences of early-adopting countries. It complements the analysis provided in "The Internet and the Consumer Marketplace".

Fall 2008

• Cellphone Services – Recent Consumer Trends
  This Update highlights recent consumer trends with respect to cellphone services, and provides updated information on statistics and reports. It complements the updated analysis provided in "The Expansion of Cellphone Services".

Spring 2007

• RFID Technologies and Consumers in The Retail Marketplace
  This update outlines recent developments in the evolution and deployment of RFID technologies in the marketplace, related consumer policy discussions, and sketches some market-based and government-driven initiatives seeking to address relevant issues. It complements the analysis provided in "The Increasing Use of Technology in Stores".

Fall 2006

• The Expansion of Cellphone Services
  This Update outlines the growing presence of cellphones in Canadian consumers' communications activities, and highlights its related policy considerations. It complements the analysis provided in "A Marketplace Transformed by Technology".