The central financial institution mentioned Thursday that its 2024 survey on cost strategies exhibits Canadians saved a median of $156 in money readily available, $16 greater than in 2023. Adjusted for inflation, the Financial institution of Canada mentioned the worth of money readily available has been “fairly steady” since 2017 regardless of small variations over the COVID-19 pandemic.
Older Canadians almost certainly to hold money
The survey confirmed clients are utilizing ATMs and financial institution branches extra typically, nonetheless, and likewise taking more money out per withdrawal.
Damaged down by age group, these 55 and older had been almost certainly to have money on their particular person at 86.8%, greater than 10 share factors increased than different demographics. But it surely was the youngest surveyed cohort, these aged 18 to 34, who held probably the most of their wallets on common at $206. The Financial institution of Canada mentioned these within the lowest revenue bracket tended to carry the least amount of money, however had been almost certainly to pay by way of money.
Canada bucks the worldwide pattern of declining money use
The survey of greater than 4,000 people, achieved in partnership with Ipsos from mid-October to mid-November final yr, included a choice of respondents logging their common purchases over various days. These surveyed counsel they had been making roughly one in 5 purchases with money.
Whereas the usage of money was on a gradual decline heading into the COVID-19 pandemic, the Financial institution of Canada mentioned these figures have been resilient over latest years. That marks a deviation from different nations, comparable to the US, which Financial institution of Canada researchers identified has seen continued annual declines in the usage of money.
Youthful shoppers could drive digital cost shift
The Financial institution of Canada mentioned it expects 79% of Canadians had no plans to go cashless in 2024, whereas 8% mentioned they might finally achieve this and 13% mentioned they had been already cash-free. These figures had been regular from 2022 and 2023.
Bank cards, in the meantime, proceed to prime the listing of the most-used cost strategies with 46% of buy volumes. Debit playing cards comply with at 23%. Cellular funds—any buy made by way of a smartphone app, together with these linked to a bank card—are in the meantime gaining traction. Cellular transactions accounted for nearly 5% of purchases in 2024, up a few share factors from a yr earlier.
If these traits preserve tempo, the Financial institution of Canada prompt that preferences amongst youthful shoppers would possibly shift in direction of holding digital wallets quite than bodily ones, which might in flip drive down demand for money.
The central financial institution mentioned it research how Canadians’ money behaviours and preferences inform its position managing cost programs within the nation.
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