According to a report by Statistics Canada, Canadian purchases from across the border have increased by 72 per cent from 2006 to 2012, rising from $4.7 billion to $8 billion. Total retail sales for Canada also grew by 20 per cent to $468 billion. The results are due to the rising currency in that time period, averaging about 95 U.S. cents.
“About three-quarters of Canadians live within 160 kilometres of the Canada-U.S. border. Therefore, many consumers use their relatively easy access to the United States as a shopping option,” says the Statistics Canada report. “This is especially true for those living right along the border when it comes to shopping for goods that are traditionally cheaper in the United States, like gasoline and groceries.”
