Nearly Half of Canadians (43%) Plan to Shop More
at Wal-Mart this Christmas

Toronto, ON - According to a new Ipsos Reid poll conducted on behalf of Wal-Mart Canada, nearly one-half of Canadians intend to do more of their Christmas shopping at Wal-Mart this year than last. More specifically, 43% intend to shop more at Wal-Mart this Christmas than last year, while two in ten (20%) intend to shop at Wal-Mart about the same amount this year as they did last year.

In contrast, just 10% will reduce their shopping at Wal-Mart and only 16% do not intend to shop at Wal-Mart this Christmas at all. One in ten (11%) Canadians did not know how much they might shop at Wal-Mart this Christmas.

• Relative to other age groups, those aged 45 to 65 are less likely to say they will increase their Wal-Mart shopping this season (35% versus the National average of 43%).

The survey also suggests that Canadians believe Wal-Mart costs less than at other major retailers. Canadians said that the same goods, purchased for $100 at Wal-Mart, would cost them an additional $20, on average, at other typical Canadian grocery and mass merchandise retail stores.

The Ipsos Reid poll was conducted on behalf of Wal-Mart Canada November 14 to November 23, 2008. This online survey of 1465 Canadian adults, aged 18 to 65 was conducted via the Ipsos I-Say Online Panel, Ipsos-Reid's national online panel. The results of these polls are based on a sample where quota sampling and weighting are employed to balance demographics and ensure that the sample's composition reflects that of the actual Canadian population according to Census data. Quota samples with weighting from the Ipsos online panel provide results that are intended to approximate a probability sample. Statistical margins of error are not applicable to online polls, however, an unweighted probability sample of this size, with a 100% response rate, would have an estimated margin of error of +/- 3 percentage points, 19 times out of 20, had the entire adult population of Canada been polled.

For more information on this news release, please contact:
Danuta Kitay
Vice President
Ipsos Reid
(416) 324-2103
[email protected]

About Ipsos Reid
Ipsos Reid is Canada's market intelligence leader, the country's leading provider of public opinion research, and research partner for loyalty and forecasting and modelling insights. With operations in eight cities, Ipsos Reid employs more than 600 research professionals and support staff in Canada. The company has the biggest network of telephone call centres in the country, as well as the largest pre-recruited household and online panels. Ipsos Reid's marketing research and public affairs practices offer the premier suite of research vehicles in Canada, all of which provide clients with actionable and relevant information. Staffed with seasoned research consultants with extensive industry-specific backgrounds, Ipsos Reid offers syndicated information or custom solutions across key sectors of the Canadian economy, including consumer packaged goods, financial services, automotive, retail, and technology & telecommunications. Ipsos Reid is an Ipsos company, a leading global survey-based market research group.

To learn more, please visit www.ipsos.ca.

About Ipsos
Ipsos is a leading global survey-based market research company, owned and managed by research professionals. Ipsos helps interpret, simulate, and anticipate the needs and responses of consumers, customers, and citizens around the world.

Member companies assess market potential and interpret market trends. They develop and build brands. They help clients build long-term relationships with their customers. They test advertising and study audience responses to various media. They measure public opinion around the globe.

Ipsos member companies offer expertise in advertising, customer loyalty, marketing, media, and public affairs research, as well as forecasting, modeling, and consulting. Ipsos has a full line of custom, syndicated, omnibus, panel, and online research products and services, guided by industry experts and bolstered by advanced analytics and methodologies. The company was founded in 1975 and has been publicly traded since 1999.

In 2007, Ipsos generated global revenues of e927.2 million ($1.27 billion U.S.).

Visit www.ipsos.com to learn more about Ipsos offerings and capabilities.

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