Canadians Continue to Feel Cautious About the Economy

The latest wave of our Economic Confidence survey points to a familiar but important tension: Canadians are not seeing a sharp new deterioration in the economy, but they are not seeing a meaningful rebound either.

Instead, the country appears to be in a holding pattern.
Confidence may be stabilizing after a difficult period, but everyday pressures continue to shape how Canadians think about their finances, their spending, and the months ahead.

This cautious sentiment is being shaped by several familiar concerns, including inflation, housing affordability, and rising gas prices. For broader context on inflation and economic indicators, see the Bank of Canada’s inflation dashboard. For more on our economic confidence tracking, read our previous update on economic confidence in January 2026.

• Canadians remain pessimistic about the national economy: 61% believe the Canadian economy is currently doing poorly, while 33% describe it as good or very good.
• The outlook is still more negative than positive: 43% expect the economy to decline over the next six months, compared with 15% who expect it to improve.
• Household finances are holding up better than views of the broader economy: 60% rate their current household finances as good or very good, though expectations of decline (25%) still outweigh expectations of improvement (16%).
• Spending intentions show a slight improvement: 24% expect to spend more over the next six months (up 4 points), while 30% expect to spend less (down 6 points).
• Fuel prices are adding pressure to household budgets: 72% indicate higher gas and diesel prices have had a negative impact on their personal finances.
• Housing remains a regionally uneven pressure point: Perceptions of real estate prices vary widely across the country, but market changes appear to be discouraging activity, especially among potential buyers.

While national sentiment appears to be stabilizing, the regional reports show that the pressures behind that caution are not the same everywhere. Economic confidence, fuel prices, and housing perceptions vary meaningfully by province, highlighting how differently Canadians are experiencing the current economy.

In British Columbia, confidence remains in negative territory, and the housing market appears especially mixed. British Columbians are evenly split on recent home prices: 35% believe prices have increased, while 35% are reporting decreases. Read the British Columbia report.

In Alberta, the provincial outlook has weakened more clearly than in other regions. Fuel prices are also weighing heavily on residents, with 75% of Albertans indicating rising gas and diesel prices are negatively affecting their personal finances. Read the Alberta report.

In Manitoba, household finances remain relatively stable, but housing pressures stand out. Nearly three-quarters of Manitobans (72%) believe home prices in their area have increased. Read the Manitoba report.

In Ontario, the pressure is both practical and personal: 74% of Ontarians tell us higher gas and diesel prices are affecting their finances, and as a result 40% are reducing how much they go out socially and instead staying home more. Read the Ontario report.

This Leger survey was conducted online among 2,620 Canadians aged 18 and older from June 5 to 8, 2026, using Leger’s LEO panel. The data was statistically weighted according to Canadian Census figures. A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey, but for comparison purposes, a probability sample of 2,620 respondents would have a margin of error of ±1.9%, 19 times out of 20.