Step 2 of Ontario’s reopening plan kicked off on June 30, 2021 leading to line-ups for haircuts and a rise in spending on local travel and entertainment categories for the long weekend.
Overall
• Across the province there was a slight decrease in shopping compared to the week before as Ontarians spent their Canada Day weekend with family and friends at BBQs in the backyard, beaches and parks with larger outdoor social gatherings and dining permitted.
• Salons and barbershops were allowed to reopen and saw a 970% increase in volumes as Ontarians rushed out for haircuts.
• Restaurants continue to see a lift in spending but bars with patios were in demand during the weekend with a 28% increase across the province week-over-week.
• Like the previous reopening weekend, there were significant increases in hotels as local travel has picked up and quarantining for returning travelers was still in place, including in Ottawa (111%), Hamilton (21%), Niagara (68%), Simcoe (37%), Waterloo (77%), Wellington (37%), York (31%).
• Car rentals were also up in Niagara (26%), Ottawa (21%), and Waterloo (28%) for out-of-town visitors and new locals moving in.
• Even with the holiday closure non-essential retail in the apparel category continued to do well with a 48% increase plus a 84% increase in department stores.
• Ontarians have started making plans for their double shot summer with a 186% increase at airlines and 68% increase at amusement parks week-over-week as people booked tickets.
Regional Breakouts
Dufferin
• 5309% increase at barbershops and salons
Durham
• 2411% increase at barbershops and salons
• 52% increase at bars
Essex
• 714% increase at barbershops and salons
• 30% increase at bars
• 41% increase at apparel stores
Halton
• 1275% increase at barbershops and salons
• 38% increase at bars
Hamilton
• 1385% increase at barbershops and salons
• 72% increase at apparel stores
• 21% increase at hotels
Niagara
• 2089% increase at barbershops and salons
• 19% increase at restaurants
• 32% increase at apparel stores
• 68% increase at hotels
• 26% increase at car rental services
Ottawa
• 736% increase at barbershops and salons
• 62% increase at apparel stores
• 11% increase at bars
• 111% increase at hotels
• 21% increase at car rental services
Peel
• 1743% increase at barbershops and salons
• 46% increase at apparel stores
Simcoe
• 1039% increase at barbershops and salons
• 92% increase at bars
• 23% increase at apparel stores
• 37% increase at hotels
Toronto
• 596% increase at barbershops and salons
• 32% increase at bars
• 49% increase at apparel stores
Waterloo
• 155% increase at barbershops and salons
• 77% increase at hotels
• 28% increase at car rental services
Wellington
• 11,080% increase at barbershops and salons
• 24% increase at bars
• 63% increase at apparel stores
• 37% increase at hotels
York
• 2087% increase at barbershops and salons
• 12% increase at bars
• 179% increase at apparel stores
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About the data: Ontario Reopening Step 2 data is based on the transaction volumes for the weekend of June 30-July 4, 2021 as compared to the week prior of June 23-27, 2021. Moneris spending reports measure spending in Canada across a range of categories by analyzing credit and debit card transaction data. The figures and percentages cited are derived from aggregated transaction volumes being processed by Moneris in the applicable categories.
