Average household spending rose 2.0 per cent in 2012: Statistics Canada

OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says households spent an average of $56,279 on goods and services in 2012, up 2.0 per cent from 2011.

The agency says shelter costs accounted for the largest share of this spending, at 28.1 per cent.

Transportation took 19.9 per cent of the total, with food just behind at 13.8 per cent.

These shares were little changed from 2011.

Provincially, Alberta households spent the most on goods and services at $69,870, while Quebec households had the lowest average spending at $48,870.

Couples with children had the highest average spending at $80,056, while one-person households headed by a senior had the lowest average spending at $27,546.