Job anxiety remains the lowest in Saskatchewan and Manitoba, according to RBC
Canadian Consumer Outlook
Saskatchewan and Manitoba residents are paying for the holidays with money on hand, not debt
Residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba also differ when it comes to financing their holiday shopping, with the highest level in the country (81 per cent) saying they will pay for the holidays with money on hand, compared to the national average of 75 per cent. Three-in-five Prairie residents (62 per cent) say that they are not planning to shop for post-holiday deals in January, compared to 58 per cent nationally.
"Prairie residents are showing some restraint with holiday shopping this year even though they are feeling secure about their employment situation," said
The report also measures Canadians' perception of current conditions compared to three months ago, as well as short term (three months) prospects for their personal finances and a number of other factors. Regional highlights include:
- National Economy: Respondents from Saskatchewan and Manitoba are most likely to say that the current overall state of the Canadian economy is good (77 per cent), while 23 per cent describe it as bad. Nationally, Canadians are divided regarding the current overall state of the economy, which 51 per cent say is good and 49 per cent say is bad. When considering the condition of the Canadian economy in the next three months, Prairie residents are the most optimistic in the country, with half (50 per cent) expecting conditions to improve versus the national average of 40 per cent, while only 17 per cent expect that conditions will worsen (compared to 20 per cent nationally). Over the next year, residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba are slightly more optimistic that the Canadian economy will improve (64 per cent versus 60 per cent nationally). - Personal Financial Situation (Overall): The percentage of residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba who say that their personal financial situation has deteriorated in the last three months fell significantly in December (to 31 per cent from 43 per cent), and below the national average of 38 per cent. One-in-four residents of Saskatchewan and Manitoba (28 per cent) believe their personal financial situation will improve in the next three months, edging closer to the national average of 30 per cent. However, over the next year, only 31 per cent of Prairie residents expect improvement in their personal financial situation, the lowest in the country and well below the national average of 43 per cent.
"After a challenging year in 2009, Saskatchewan and Manitoba are poised for growth," said
About The RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook Index
The RBC Monthly Canadian Consumer Outlook Index, benchmarked as of
For further information: Rina Cortese, RBC Corporate Communications, (416) 974-6970; Gillian McArdle, RBC Media Relations, (647) 400-8464
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