Canadians spending more this holiday season as shopping rush comes to a head

New data suggests more people are headed back to brick-and-mortar retail, and malls are busy for last-minute Christmas shoppers. CTV’s Dylan Dyson reports.

With just hours left in the holiday shopping windows, new data from Visa Canada says shoppers have returned to gift buying the old-fashioned way — at malls and brick-and-mortar retail stores.

Since Nov. 1, Visa says 88 per cent of this year’s holiday payment volume was in physical stores, compared to just 12 per cent online.

Many were picking up last minute gifts at Carlingwood Shopping Centre Tuesday, proving the new data correct.

“I am probably a perennial last-minute shopper. Usually, I’m running around on the day before like this,” said shopper Ben Siebarth.

Last minute shopper Deonne Power makes a sport of it, doing multiple stops Tuesday, with more planned for Christmas Eve.

“Usually, I like to leave it to see what the deals are going to be,” Power told CTV News. “I’m going to go to a jewelry store tomorrow, and then I should be finished.”

Data from Visa Canada also says Canadians are spending 4.4 per cent more this holiday season compared to last year.

“I think it’s a combination of inflation,” says retail analyst Bruce Winder.

“So even though they want to spend the same, the same item is more expensive this year. That’s part of it. The other part of it is they get caught up in marketing and social media. There’s so much in peer pressure.”

Bayshore Shopping Centre has extended holiday hours until 10 p.m. on Tuesday. Both CF Rideau Centre and St. Laurent Shopping Centre have regular shopping hours until 9 p.m.

All three of Ottawa’s major shopping malls will close at 5 p.m. on Christmas Eve.

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