Shoppers flocked to malls on Thursday to take advantage of Boxing Day deals made more enticing by the federal government香蕉视频直播檚 GST holiday, but some say the lower prices aren香蕉视频直播檛 enough to keep up with the country香蕉视频直播檚 cost of living.

For two months, a slew of items including children香蕉视频直播檚 toys, video games and consoles, snacks, wine and restaurant food are GST- or HST-free, depending on the province. The tax break has incentivized some consumers to take advantage of Boxing Day sales at their local retailers.

Nakul Singal said he came to Fairview Mall in Toronto on Thursday morning with his partner to hunt for deals.

香蕉视频直播淓very year, we generally get good deals,香蕉视频直播� said Singal, who added he香蕉视频直播檇 been waiting for Boxing Day to get new earphones. 香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 good to shop around during this time.香蕉视频直播�

He added that while the tax break has helped his family with food prices, he would like the government to do more to help Canadians with the high costs of living, especially housing.

香蕉视频直播淚 hope that they could stop inflation,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淲e are struggling right now.香蕉视频直播�

The vice-president of federal government relations for the Retail Council of Canada, Matt Poirier, told The Canadian Press last week that Boxing Day in particular is expected to get a boost amid the temporary break.

However, he said businesses, including ones with older payment systems, have faced hurdles trying to implement the tax break on short notice and even figuring out which items qualify.

An RBC Economics report from earlier this month showed retail spending slowed in November, with holiday spending slightly below 2023 levels over the Black Friday weekend. Spending on hobbies, toys and games scaled back notably after Nov. 21, wrote RBC economist Carrie Freestone 香蕉视频直播� the day the tax break was announced.

香蕉视频直播淭ypically, spending on popular children香蕉视频直播檚 gifts builds as the holiday season approaches,香蕉视频直播� wrote Freestone.

But even with November香蕉视频直播檚 decline, Canada is likely on track for a slight uptick in per-person retail spending in the fourth quarter for the first time since mid-2022, she wrote.

Joey Comia-Orellano, an assistant store manager at a GameStop in north Toronto, said the store has seen an influx of customers since the tax break was announced. Shoppers have been eager to benefit from the tax holiday, he said.

香蕉视频直播淲e香蕉视频直播檝e been getting shoppers before Boxing Day,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Comia-Orellano added that he expects the store to get busier on Thursday as consumers look to save with Boxing Day deals combined with the tax break.

香蕉视频直播淚 did notice a lot of people buying more games, a lot of controllers, and definitely a lot of consoles, too,香蕉视频直播� he said.

Meanwhile, Raj Jeetu, another shopper at Fairview Mall on Thursday, said while he has already taken advantage of the tax break at restaurants multiple times, he香蕉视频直播檚 skeptical of what it will do for Canadians in the long-term.

香蕉视频直播淚 don香蕉视频直播檛 know if it香蕉视频直播檒l help much. I guess the prices really need to come down,香蕉视频直播� he said.

For Comia-Orellano, one thing he has heard from customers is that while the tax break and Boxing Day deals might not help with the overall affordability crisis, it香蕉视频直播檚 still worthwhile for savings.

香蕉视频直播淚t香蕉视频直播檚 necessary, it gets hard around the holidays,香蕉视频直播� he said. 香蕉视频直播淭his is almost like a small break for people when it comes to taxes, so not necessarily making things a little bit more affordable.香蕉视频直播�

Some malls were also busy in Vancouver on Boxing Day.

The Vancouver International Airport warned travellers and shoppers to expect heavy traffic and delays.

It said on Thursday that they are seeing 香蕉视频直播渉igh volumes香蕉视频直播� of vehicle traffic near the airport as shoppers are flooding the nearby McArthurGlen outlet mall for cheap deals.

This report by The Canadian Press was first published Dec. 26, 2024.

Rianna Lim, The Canadian Press