Prairies Consumer Confidence
According to the Conference Board of Canada, consumer confidence in the Prairies was up for a fifth consecutive month in May 2023.
Concerning job prospects over the next six months, the number of respondents expecting stability was near record highs. The number of respondents who expressed pessimism dipped lower in May, while those expressing optimism ticked up. The gap between those respondents expecting worse conditions and those who are optimistic continues to narrow.
Regarding expectations for their household budget over the next six months, the number of respondents expecting deterioration in their household finances was lower compared to the previous month as the number of respondents expecting conditions to remain the same rose.
Sentiment about making major purchases, like a home or a car, remains at historically subdued levels but has improved in recent months. The overall percentage of consumers who thought it was a good time to make a major purchase moved slightly lower in May as the number of those who thought it was a bad time rose.
Note: Based on 3-month moving averages.
