Canadian Spending More on Shelter, Transportation

[From the Globe and Mail]:

"Canadians are spending a greater chunk of their incomes on housing while the proportion devoted to personal taxes has hit a 14-year low, a government report showed Tuesday.

Canadians were in an expansive mood in 2006, spending 4.6 per cent more than in 2005 -- over twice the rate of inflation, Statistics Canada said in its survey of household spending. The biggest share of Canadian household budgets was still on personal taxes, shelter and transportation, at 20 per cent, 19 per cent and 14 per cent, respectively. The poorest fifth of the population spend most of their budget on food and shelter, while the wealthiest fifth spend the most on taxes and shelter."

[From the Survey]:

"Spending on shelter rose 5% to an average of $12,990, largely the result of increases in spending of 14% in Alberta, 7% in Saskatchewan, and 6% in British Columbia. Shelter costs in Alberta rose by 10% in 2006, according to the CPI.

Household spending on transportation rose 4% at the national level, to an average of $9,240, but at the provincial level, trends varied widely. Households in Alberta spent an average of $12,160 on transportation, up 19% from 2005. Spending on vehicle purchases alone was up 22% over the previous year in this province.

Canadians used public transportation more in 2006, with spending increasing 17% to $970. Most of this was for air travel, which increased by 22% to $530 per household. Spending for city commuter bus, subway and other means of public transport rose by 11% to $220.

Households in Alberta reported the highest spending on communications, $1,900, up 15% from the previous year.

Calgary was the most wireless city, with 87% of households having a cell phone. Households in Calgary spent $750 on average on cell phones in 2006, more than they did on conventional phone lines ($700)."