Holiday on a budget: Quebec spends less, supports local more
Posted October 20, 2025 1:10 pm.
Last Updated October 20, 2025 1:11 pm.
As the 2025 holiday season approaches, Quebec consumers are tightening their holiday budget, with average planned spending on gifts dropping to $620, nearly 20 per cent less than 2024, according to a survey on holiday shopping conducted by Leger for the Retail Council of Canada (RCC).
According to the survey, Quebec is well below the national average of $975 on holiday spending. Among the 2505 Canadians who conducted the survey between August 5 and 25, stats show that Alberta comes up as the highest in holiday spending with an average budget of $1193.
For Quebecers, the survey shows that this year they are prioritizing buying local and sustainably. More than eight out of ten Quebecers say it’s important to support Quebec or Canadian-owned retailers. The emphasis on buying local remains a defining feature of Quebec’s retail landscape. About 10 per cent of Quebec consumers say they will consider environmental impact when choosing gifts, compared with 3 per cent nationally.
Budget friendly savings is also seemingly a priority for Quebec shoppers; 73 per cent say they plan to use flyers and deal platforms to plan purchases, far above the national average of 55 per cent, and 87 per cent say they will wait for promotions.
The survey also shows emphasis for practicality and shared experiences over excess among Quebecers. They plan to spend more on home entertaining (18 per cent) and toys and games (14 per cent), and slightly less on apparel (13 per cent) and gift cards (14 per cent).
“Quebecers are feeling financial pressure, yet they’re the most likely in Canada to say they’ll hold or even grow their holiday budgets,” says Michel Rochette, president of Retail Council of Canada – Quebec. “They’re approaching the season with sharper deal-hunting, a strong preference for Quebec and Canadian brands, and the country’s highest focus on sustainability — a powerful mix of discipline, pride, and purpose.”
The survey also indicates that for Canadians, Black Friday and Cyber Week are expected to capture over 30 per cent of total gift spending, indicating this seasons potentially biggest spending days.
