Recreation Expenditure Trends - Canada

Despite the fact that average household incomes remained essentially the same throughout the 1990's (in constant dollars), Canadians increased their recreation spending over 28% from 1992 to 1998. This in spite of the fact that shelter expenses had to increase by 24.6% during the same period, health care expenses went up 37.4% and education expenses increased by 57.9%.
Canadians value their leisure experiences. The table below shows the average household expenditure in Canada on recreation (in current dollars).

1992	1996	1997	1998	% change
$2,300	$2,641	$2,784	2,947	28.1

Source: Statistics Canada Family Ependiture Survey 1992, 1996 and Survey of Household Expenditures 1997, 1998.

Canada's office of Consumer Affairs has looked at annual growth rates in each of their household spending categories, based on the Survey of Household Spending (1997 and 2002).  The greatest increases over the five year period were in the areas of health care, education, furnishings/equipment, transportation and tobacco/alcohol.  Recreation came next - closely matched by gambling.  The greatest decreases were in the categories of reading materials, clothing and personal taxes.

Source: http://ic.gc.ca/eic/site/oca-be.nsf/eng/ca02117.html