Canadian Recreational Spending - shifting to home based

Frances Kremarik, published 'The Changing Recreational Spending Patterns of Canadian Families' in Canadian Social Trends (Spring 2002).  The data (1982 to 1999) reflected a period with two recessions where average after tax income was only 4% higher at the end of a 17 year period.  Income growth did not keep pace with spending increases as average household expenditures increased by 10% of the period (compared to 4% increase in income).  Spending on recreation increased by almost 40% over the period.

While some of the shifts within the recreation category can be attributed to increasing costs of products or services, and others to the onslaught of the digital age; what is perhaps most significant is the obvious shift towards spending on home-based recreation and leisure.  Spending on recreation fees and athletic equipment increased only 8% in each sub-category - much less than the overall 39% increase.  Event admissions were the only non-home based sub-category to increase faster than this overall rate - at 47%. 

Note the huge influence of increased computer expenditure on the overall trend optics.

   Average annual $ spent by all Canadian households