Although the pandemic might force Santa to tighten his belt in making this yearB次元官网网址檚 trip around the world, new research says it wonB次元官网网址檛 mean any shortage of presents from the elves in Canada at least.

While Christmas budgets for travel and leisure activities could decrease four to 12 per cent over last year, budgets towards gifts should remain typical, according to information compiled by HelloSafe.

The presence of the Omicron COVID-19 variant is the Grinch that stole Christmas escape packages.

B次元官网网址淣ew restrictions would mean less travel and more people staying home rather than going out for entertainment,B次元官网网址� reads a press release from the insurance evaluation company. One October 2021 survey projected the average Canadian householdB次元官网网址檚 Christmas budget reaching $1,841 this year; a 31-per-cent increase over 2020. B次元官网网址淗owever, the recent resurgence of COVID-19 illustrated by the quick spread of the Omicron variant is likely to change things.B次元官网网址�

HelloSafe predicts an B次元官网网址渙ptimisticB次元官网网址� scenario of 5,000 daily new infections would translate to a modest 3.9-per-cent decrease ($71) in that projected budget, which would still be 25 per cent higher than the COVID-affected 2020 spending. A less jolly scenario of 10,000 daily cases would push Christmas spending down by 11.5 per cent ($211), it says, but even that number is 16 per cent sunnier than the average householdB次元官网网址檚 2020 budget.

READ ALSO:

READ ALSO:

B次元官网网址淎lthough it is very difficult in this moving context to estimate with accuracy how Canadians will react to the spread of Omicron, we can predict travel and entertainment will be the most negatively affected type of expenses,B次元官网网址� HelloSafe said.

Looking at the gift shopping element of the personal Christmas budget, clothes take the top spot with $283 allocated, followed by food, sweets and alcohol, and toys.

Do you have a story tip? Email: vnc.editorial@blackpress.ca.

Follow us on and and like us on