With just days to go before the big day, the crunch is on to find last-minute gift ideas.
This year, Maritimers have been spending their dollars close to home.
“It's just not worth it now with the dollar so low,” said shopper Viv Clarke. “If I'm going to spend, it's going to be spent here. It's too much of a loss on your dollar to take it across the board.”
A new poll suggests most Canadians still have to buy their last holiday gifts. But it seems even with the lower loonie, many Maritimers are opening their wallets.
Jim Cormier of the Retail Council of Canada says there’s been an uptake of about 85 per cent, with the average spending increase up about six per cent per retailer.
“Black Friday, Cyber Monday, which is when people start thinking about that holiday gift, those sales have been up 89 per cent,” said Cormier.
Business owner Bruce Meloney says the low Canadian dollar has boosted his sales.
“If I go back to cruise ship season it was incredible for us,” said Meloney. “For the Americans coming here it was really an advantage for them, so they spent more money.”
While many shoppers are staying home and investing into the local economy, business owners in downtown Sydney say it's costing them more to have goods shipped from the United States.
“It's going to get tougher and tougher if the economy doesn't rebound,” said Cormier.
With files from CTV Atlantic’s Kyle Moore.
