B.C Border Trips Fall as Shoppers Stay Home for Black Friday

Border Quiet as Black Friday Arrives

On Black Friday 2025 the usual surge of British Columbia shoppers heading south into the United States did not materialize. Traffic at the Lynden/Aldergrove border crossing dropped by more than 90 per cent compared with past years. 

Lines that once snaked through customs were nearly gone. The lack of waiting vehicles told a clear story: many B.C. bargain hunters chose to skip the cross-border trip this year. 

Why Fewer People Crossed the Border?

Local analysts believe the shift reflects a broader change in shopping habits. Rising prices and a cautious economic outlook made many consumers re-think the cost and hassle of traveling for deals. Instead, many opted to shop locally or online where Cyber Monday and post-holiday sales often offer comparable discounts.

Another factor appears to be a drop in cross-border travel overall: data from November 2025 show a 38-per-cent decrease in B.C.-registered vehicles entering the U.S. compared with last year. 

Retailers Feel the Shift Online and Local Gains, Travel Losses

Stores and malls in B.C. saw less foot traffic than in previous Black Fridays, but online retailers and local shops picked up some of the slack. Consumers who traditionally waited in line at U.S. stores seemed more willing to shop digitally or at Canadian outlets. 

Some retailers note that this trend may persist as more Canadians value convenience and avoid cross-border travel costs, duties, and delays. The holiday shopping season may be shifting to one dominated by online deals rather than travel-based bargain hunting. 

What This Means for Shoppers and the Border Economy

For shoppers: staying in province appears to offer savings, convenience, and fewer hassles. For border towns and U.S. retailers that counted on Black Friday visits from Canadians, the drop in traffic marks a significant hit.

If this pattern continues, cross-border shopping may no longer play the role it once did in B.C. holiday retail cycles.

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