Household Finances and Economic Recession

September 1, 2023

Leger’s North American Tracker is back. Every month, we will conduct a survey of Canadians and Americans to explore their views on the economy, finances, and their respective governments. This month, our survey was conducted between August 23 and 27, 2023.

This survey explores Canadians’ and Americans’ perspectives on their household finances and the threat of an economic recession, and Canadians’ perspectives on federal politics.

With the economic conditions in Canada and the U.S. becoming more uncertain as time passes, our latest North American Tracker explored how Canadians and Americans feel about the state of their household finances and the threat of an economic recession. We also asked whether they feel like they will lose their job within the next 12 months.

Download the report for the full results.


This series of surveys is available on Leger’s website. Would you like to be the first to receive these results? Subscribe to our newsletter now. 


SOME OF THE KEY HIGHLIGHTS OF OUR SURVEY INCLUDE…

FINANCES AND THE ECONOMY

  • Nearly half of Canadians (47%) and Americans (46%) are currently living paycheck to paycheck.  
  • 61% of Canadians think their country is experiencing an economic recession, in contrast to 51% of Americans who feel the same. 
  • Among Canadians who are currently employed, more than one third (38%) are concerned about losing their job in the next 12 months. This concern is more pronounced among Canadians aged 18 to 34 (47%) and Ontarians (46%). Meanwhile, 36% of Americans share the same concern about job loss in the next year. 
  • Despite the current situation, 60% of Canadians say the state of their household finances is good, while 36% say the state of their household finances is poor. Americans are more optimistic, with 64% saying their household finances are good. 
Canadians' and Americans' opinions on if Canada or the US is in an economic recession.

THE CONSERVATIVE PARTY OF CANADA’S POPULARITY IS INCREASING

  • Pierre Poilievre’s Conservative Party of Canada is leading with 38% support among decided voters, followed by the Liberal Party led by Justin Trudeau with 29%.
  • 59% of Canadians say they are dissatisfied with the government led by Justin Trudeau, with over one-third (35%) saying they are very dissatisfied.
Canadians' federal voting intentions as of August 27, 2023.

METHODOLOGY

This web survey was conducted from August 25 to 27, 2023, with 1,597 Canadians and 1,001 Americans, 18 years of age or older, randomly recruited from LEO’s online panel. 

A margin of error cannot be associated with a non-probability sample in a panel survey. For comparison, a probability sample of 1,597 respondents would have a margin of error of ±2.5%, 19 times out of 20, while a probability sample of 1,001 respondents would have a margin of error of ±3.096%, 19 times out of 20. 

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