Where our cash goes (Canadian version, eh!)

I saw an interesting infographic on the average US spending (commented on by yesiamcheap.com, and heard via @brokeinthecity), and just happened to be looking at the same data for Canadians. It's not as pretty, but here it is:

Considering that the average household income was $74,600 in 2008 (no 2009 data released yet), there has been little wiggle room. In fact, total household expenditure dropped in 2009 - the first time a decline was reported since the survey was launched in 1997:

Here's a full breakdown on trends of where our money is going:

From 2008 to 2009, the top 3 categories that dropped the most in absolute (average) dollars were: Recreation (-$223), Personal Taxes (-$200) and Food (-$173).

By percent change, the top 3 declining categories were: Reading Materials (-8.3%), Recreation (-5.5%) and Household Furnishings and Equipment (-3.6%) - all pretty much discretionary.

From 2000 to 2009, total household expenditures rose 29%. The top 3 categories for increased allocation were: Personal Care (64%), Health Care (51%) and Education (50%). The top 3 categories for smallest change were: Reading Materials (-14%), Games of Chance (2% - need to check what this is) and, surprisingly, Food (19%).

We Canadians are not the same across the country. Total household expenditures in 2009 by province/territory:

• British Columbia - $73,571
• Alberta - $84,976
• Saskatchewan - $69,377
• Manitoba - $66,608
• Ontario -  $76,577
• Quebec - $60,125
• New Brunswick - $61,212
• Nova Scotia - $60,867
• Prince Edward Island -  $56,896
• Newfoundland - $57,605
• Yukon - $69,856
• Northwest Territories - $82,966
• Nunavut - $84,439

And here in Toronto? $83,847.
Ouch.


For a full summary, visit Statistics Canada for the most recent release of the Survey of Household Spending.

N.B.
I didn't look at the median amounts, although maybe those figures would have provided a more useful picture. Who is an "average Canadian" anyways?