Season of Giving

Hennessy's Index is a monthly listing of numbers, written by the CCPA's Trish Hennessy, about Canada and its place in the world. Scroll down for a PDF version.  For other months, visit: http://policyalternatives.ca/index

• 55

  Percentage of Canadians who plan to pay straight cash when gift buying this holiday season. (Source)

• 37

  Percentage of Canadians who plan to put their gift purchases on their credit card. (Source)

• $640

  The average amount Canadians plan to spend on gifts this year, up from $624 last year. (Source)

• $429

  How much, on average, Canadians went over budget on gift giving last year. (Source)

• 85,000

  Number of registered charities in Canada. Most rely on charitable donations, which have reached a 30-year low in Canada. (Source)

• 23.1

  Percentage of Canadians who claimed a tax deduction for charitable giving in 2009. (Source)

• Nearly $1 billion

  The drop in Canadian charitable giving in a two-year period, 2007-09. (Source)

• 51

  Percentage of Canadians who would give to charity if they had better finances. (Source)

• 61

  Percentage of Canadians who say hunger and food charities are in greater need, yet food bank donations have declined in Vancouver and Toronto. (Source 1, 2, 3)

• 67

  Percentage of Canadians 55 and older who reported giving a cash charitable donation in 2010, compared to 48 per cent of Canadians 18-34 who donate. (Source)

• 25

  Percentage of end-of-year charitable giving to national non-profit organizations. (Source)

• 12,000

  Number of members who donated to the Canadian Centre for Policy Alternatives last year. Give the gift of reason this season: http://www.policyalternatives.ca/gifts.