Esri provides a HouseholdSpend advanced demographics dataset for Canada sourced from data supplied by Environics Analytics. Visit Where to find ArcGIS Data to learn more about using advanced demographics.
The HouseholdSpend (or household spending) dataset is an authoritative estimate of annual expenditures for Canadian households. This dataset provides current estimates of annual expenditures spanning 18 categories of goods and services used by Canadian households—from fashion apparel and household furnishings to cell phones and charitable donations.
The 2025 update introduces a comprehensive set of new variables that reflect modern consumer behaviour. Key data insights include the following:
- Consumer goods and services—Variables capture consumer expenditures on clothing, footwear, accessories, health-care products, household furnishings, and pet-related goods. Improved granularity enables more precise segmentation for service providers targeting lifestyle-driven consumer segments.
- Housing and utilities—New variables provide detailed spending on utilities, repairs, renovations, and real estate services for both primary and secondary residences, supporting providers tracking housing cost analysis and strategic planning.
- Mobility and recreation—Variables track transportation modes such as ridesharing, leased vehicles, and public transit, alongside recreational spending on sports equipment, live events, and digital entertainment, providing insight into how Canadians move, play, and engage in leisure activities.
- Financial and social contributions—Variables include insurance premiums, pension contributions, charitable donations, and financial services, providing in-depth household financial behavior and social engagement.
Release dates
The HouseholdSpend dataset was updated in October 2025; the vintage is 2025.
Base level geography
HouseholdSpend variables are available at the dissemination area base level geography.
Sample questions and use cases
This wide-ranging dataset can be used to analyze potential expenditures by both average dollars per household and total dollars spent for any geographic level—from all of Canada to a small trade area—regardless of where the consumer made the purchase. The HouseholdSpend dataset is produced annually with household income data from the DemoStats dataset and is based on Statistics Canada’s Survey of Household Spending.
Sample questions that can be answered using HouseholdSpend data may include the following:
- What product categories do households in my trade area spend the most money on?
- What percentage of their total spending is associated with each category?
- How much are my customers spending on average on clothing, rent, and groceries?
- Where can I find neighborhoods with high childcare expenses?
- Are expenditures in my trade area higher, lower, or the same as the national average?
Example use cases that can be applied to HouseholdSpend data include the following:
 | Analyzing your customers’ spending habits can highlight potential cross-promotional opportunities if, for example, the data indicates your customers spend their disposable income disproportionately on a particular category of goods or services. |
 | For a new energy conservation program, a hydro company can use the HouseholdSpend dataset to target PRIZM® segments with electricity bills that are a higher-than-average percentage of total utility bill spending. |
 | Health-care providers can use the HouseholdSpend dataset to monitor trade areas for purchase trends of prescription and over-the-counter drugs, reflecting aging population or other health factors. |
Related links
Refer to the following content:
- See Canada Related links for Esri's Canadian release notes and variable lists.
- Housing Profile sample report (PDF)
- See the Environics Analytics HouseholdSpend article for more information from the data source.