In 2020, when many stores were closed because of the pandemic, 82% of Canadians shopped online, spending a total of $84.4 billion. This is a pretty significant increase since 2018, when 77%C of respondents shopped online and spent a total of $57.4 billion.
Here's a breakdown of what exactly Canadians bought online: 76% purchased physical goods (things like clothing or furniture), 68% bought digital goods or services (applications or games for your phone), 9% spent money on peer-to-peer accommodation services (for example, Airbnb or Vrbo), and 49% bought other services.
The COVID-19 pandemic has certainly forced many of us to change the way we shop. Between November 2020 and March 2021, 9% of Canadians said they bought physical goods online for the first time, and 13% said they ordered groceries online for the first time during the pandemic.
Contact information
For more information, contact the Statistical Information Service (toll-free 1-800-263-1136; 514-283-8300; infostats@statcan.gc.ca) or Media Relations (statcan.mediahotline-ligneinfomedias.statcan@statcan.gc.ca).