Spending growth at B.C. bars and restaurants is lagging compared with the restaurant and bar sector elsewhere in Canada, according to Statistics Canada data released August 31.
The finding adds weight to many restaurateurs’ claims that the harmonized sales tax (HST) is keeping British Columbians from spending lavishly on restaurant meals.
The government number cruncher noted that spending in B.C. on food and drink at full service restaurants, limited service eateries and bars dropped 0.9% in June, compared with June 2010.
Canadawide, consumers spent 3.2% more on those services in June than they did in 2010.
B.C. was the only province where consumers spent less on food and drink at eateries and bars in June 2011 compared with the same month in 2010.
Newfoundlanders and Labradorians increased the opening of their wallets the most. Spending on food and drink at eateries and bars rose 7.1% in June 2011 compared with the same month in 2010.
Other provinces that saw strong gains in consumers’ dining budgets in June, compared with the same month in 2010, were Alberta (7%), Manitoba (5.5%) and Prince Edward Island (3.9%).
Glen Korstrom
Twitter: GlenKorstrom