Wining and dining in Canada

Canadians love their restaurants, and they’re loving them more and more every year.

Data from Statistics Canada shows that restaurant sales per capita have increased steadily in the past 15 years. Bars haven’t been so fortunate: Sales per capita in drinking establishments have slowly declined overall, although Saskatchewan has seen the opposite trend.

Take a look at Canada’s restaurant and bar sales in the graphics below.

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Bar patrons in B.C. spend more than anyone else in the country – $122.53 in sales per person in 2012. But it’s important to note that not all purchases might have been made by residents: Tourism is a big industry in B.C., particularly in the Whistler area, where people might be inclined to spend a little more at the many local bars and nightclubs on their skiing holiday.

On the other end, Manitoba has the lowest bar sales per person – just $23.42 in 2012 – followed by Ontario at $36.30.

Albertans love to dine out, as restaurant sales show. Restaurants made $850.61 per person in that province in 2012. New Brunswick had the lowest per-capita restaurant sales – just $379.98.

Restaurant sales also tend to vary seasonally. Restaurant sales peak in the summer months – the 2012 Canadian average was $59.72 per person in August. Bar sales spiked in March to $6.08 per Canadian, and were high in the summer at about $5.80 in 2012.

Perhaps because Canadians are trying to cut back on spending, calories and drinks after the holidays, sales at both bar and restaurants tend to be at their lowest in January.