13°c Light rain showers
18°c Cloudy with sunny breaks
Winnipeg Free Press - PRINT EDITION
It hasn't been this good since July 2011
Conference Board releases survey
OTTAWA -- Consumer confidence headed higher in September, helped by an improved financial outlook, as Canadians were their most optimistic since July 2011, the Conference Board of Canada said.
The Ottawa think-tank reported Wednesday its consumer confidence index increased 6.7 points to 82.2 after a weak showing in August.
"The balance of opinion on the current finances question reversed itself sharply in September," the report said.
On the question of current finances, 18.4 per cent of the respondents said their situation had improved over the past six months -- up two percentage points from August.
There was a smaller percentage of those who said their situation had become worse over the past six months -- falling 3.7 percentage points to 17.6 per cent.
Regarding future finances, 25.2 per cent said they expected an improvement over the next six months -- an increase of 1.2 percentage points.
Only 15.6 per cent of respondents said they expected their financial situation to worsen, a decline of 1.7 percentage points since August.
"The balance of opinion remains firmly positive on this question (as it has for more than 10 years now), with the balance in this latest survey coming in slightly above the average of the last two years," the group said.
The improved reading of Canadian consumer confidence follows a report Tuesday that retail sales rose more than expected in July, helped by strong auto sales.
Statistics Canada said retail sales were up 0.7 per cent to $39 billion in July, more than offsetting a decline in June, with eight of 11 sub-sectors reporting increases.
The Conference Board report for September suggested Canadians were pessimistic about making a major purchase, but that the outlook had improved.
When asked if they thought now is a good time to make a major purchase, 42.9 per cent said yes, an increase of 1.7 percentage points.
The Conference Board survey was based on over 2,000 telephone interviews conducted in early September.
-- The Canadian Press
Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 27, 2012 B8
More Business
- Back to Top
- Return to Business
More Business
(1 of 19 articles for today)
Bernanke says computer revolution likely to provide various future gains to economic growth
2:56 PM 0
Poll
Most Popular Business
- Mounties say crooks passing fake polymer bank notes in British Columbia
- Ex-'Pegger seeks to grow local businesses
- Bridging the gap
- Gen X, young boomers up against retirement wall
- Buyer beware in online auto sales: experts
- Weekend of spending expected
- The ready-made solution evolution
- Toronto, Wall Street surge higher amid positive U.S. data, consumer sentiment
- In blurring of online courses, traditional, Georgia Tech to offer full open online master's
- Manitoba, P.E.I. tied for highest inflation in April
- Transcona transformation
- Mounties say crooks passing fake polymer bank notes in British Columbia
- Holiday pump jump debated
- Driving downtown development
- Winnipeg's got the REIT stuff
- McDonald's adding 3 new Quarter Pounders as it phases out third-pound Angus burgers
- Flight attendants union calls $50 million Air Canada cuts premature
- 3 Ford owners sue in federal court, saying EcoBoost engine is defective
- CEO, execs terminated at TCIG
- Emergency manager reveals Detroit is nearly broke; city may have no choice except bankruptcy
- Target opens its first Manitoba stores Tuesday
- New structure to be king of downtown?
- Transcona transformation
- Target opens Manitoba stores
- Mounties say crooks passing fake polymer bank notes in British Columbia
- Raising the rent is a good sign
- City to get a touch of glass
- Canad Inns property has personal meaning for owner
- Holiday pump jump debated
- Border-fee idea doesn't fly
- Bridging the gap
- Ex-'Pegger seeks to grow local businesses
- Late deal in workplace sex-harassment case
- Few crossovers score well in front crashes: report
- Tougher food-safety rules in the works: Agriculture Minister Gerry Ritz
- Give yourself permission to relax
- Buyer beware in online auto sales: experts
- Transcona transformation
- Winnipeg's got the REIT stuff
- CEO, execs terminated at TCIG
- Diversification spurs Exchange Income's growth
- Driving downtown development
- Late deal in workplace sex-harassment case
- There are lots of I's in 'team'
- City to get a touch of glass
- Bridging the gap
- Flight attendants union calls $50 million Air Canada cuts premature
- Transcona transformation
- MacDon on the block?
- New structure to be king of downtown?
- CEO, execs terminated at TCIG
- Target opens its first Manitoba stores Tuesday
- Canad Inns property has personal meaning for owner
- Winnipeg's got the REIT stuff
- Older and jobless? Resource on hand
- Carney says touching Canadian deposits "hard to fathom" in a new bail-in scheme
- Winnipeg Boeing plant set to expand
Ads by Google
You can comment on most stories on winnipegfreepress.com. You can also agree or disagree with other comments. All you need to do is register and/or login and you can join the conversation and give your feedback.
Have Your Say
New to commenting? Check out our Frequently Asked Questions.
The Winnipeg Free Press does not necessarily endorse any of the views posted. By submitting your comment, you agree to our Terms and Conditions. These terms were revised effective April 16, 2010.