Consumption patterns among aging Canadians
Archived Content
Information identified as archived is provided for reference, research or recordkeeping purposes. It is not subject to the Government of Canada Web Standards and has not been altered or updated since it was archived. Please "contact us" to request a format other than those available.
Studies by...
By Amélie Lafrance and Sébastien LaRochelle-Côté
Changes in consumption patterns before and after retirement comprise a key indicator of seniors' well-being. This study uses a series of cross-sectional surveys to estimate the consumption of households headed by someone born in the late 1930s—from middle age (in the early 1980s) into the senior years (in the late 2000s).
After adjusting for changes to the number of people in the household, consumption changed little as the head of the household aged. In contrast, household income (including implicit income from home ownership) declined by about 15%.
While the total varied little by age, households in this cohort spent proportionately more on food, clothing and care items when they were younger and proportionately more on residence and housing items when they were older.
As their household heads aged, the proportion of households that consumed more than they earned increased, from 22% to 44%. This confirms that older households rely more on savings to finance their consumption.
Inequality in consumption levels among households was relatively stable over the period, even though income inequality did change. However, spending on residences and housing became more unequal among older households, while spending on food, clothing and personal care items became more equal.
- Date modified: