As American retailers celebrate “Black Friday”, the year’s biggest shopping day south of the border, a new poll says Canadian consumers plan to increase their holding spending this year.

According to a new study conducted for Retail Council of Canada by POLLARA, the average expected holiday spending on gifts and non-gift related expenses is $1,357 per person, up from the $991 in last year’s survey.

Last year’s survey was undertaken earlier in the month, which may account for the variance cited above. Based on the increased sales activities during the week following Christmas 2004 (Boxing Week), the Retail Council says consumers spent more than indicated during the survey.

This year, 94% of Canadians plan to give gifts to others, spending an average of $687 this year. These consumers also plan to spend an average of $670 on non-gift related expenses, such as clothing, travel, decoration, beauty services, food and drink and entertainment this coming holiday season.

“We believe this number reflects a more accurate picture of Canadian consumers’ shopping intentions for the coming Holiday Season and we anticipate a busy season for retailers,” says Diane Brisebois, president and CEO, Retail Council of Canada. “Although Canadians are dealing with various economic factors such as rising energy costs, it appears that this has not dampened their enthusiasm about giving gifts and celebrating the holidays with family and friends, and it also reflects the consumer trends we are seeing across the border.”

The survey tracked the holiday shopping intentions of Canadian consumers in an online omnibus poll conducted from Nov. 11 to Nov. 18, 2005. For the survey, a representative randomly selected sample of 1,431 adult Canadians was polled.