In the online survey of representative national samples, 55 per cent of Canadians (-7 since December 2012) rate the economic conditions in their country as “very good” or “good.” Just over a quarter of Americans (27%, +4) and 12 per cent of Britons (+1) feel the same way about their respective economies.

The largest proportion of Canadians who are content with their country’s economy is in Alberta (80%), while the lowest numbers are observed in Quebec (47%). In the United States, people in the Northeast (31%) and Midwest (also 31%) are more confident. London (19%) provides the highest ranking in Britain, while only seven per cent of respondents in Scotland believe the UK economy is doing well.

Majorities of Canadians (61%, +5) and Americans (52%, +9) rate their own personal finances as “very good” or “good”, compared to only 38 per cent of Britons (unchanged). In fact, three-in-ten respondents in Britain (31%) expect their national economy to decline in the next six months. Only 23 per cent of Americans and 16 per cent of Canadians feel the same way about their respective economies.

The leap in economic confidence observed in the United States is accompanied by a sizeable drop in financial concerns. Only about two-in-five Americans have worried frequently or occasionally about the safety of their savings (42%), unemployment affecting their household (41%) and the value of their investments (40%), and fewer have been concerned with being able to pay their mortgage or rent (33%) or their employer running into serious financial trouble (30%).

The proportion of respondents in Canada and Britain who have worried about any of these five issues is decidedly smaller than in the United States, with less than one-in-five Canadians (18%) expressing concern about their employer running into serious financial trouble.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Full Methodology Details

The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/-2.2% for Great Britain and +/-3.1% for the United States and Canada. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of each country.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,008 Canadian adults, two thirds of respondents (68%) agree with the government’s decision to take the penny out of circulation this year.

In its 2012 budget, the federal government decided to phase out the penny “due to its excessive and rising cost of production relative to face value, the increased accumulation of pennies by Canadians in their households, environmental considerations, and the significant handling costs the penny imposes on retailers, financial institutions and the economy in general.”

The one-cent coin will no longer be circulated in Canada as of Feb. 4.

Quebecers (73%) and British Columbians (71%) are more likely to agree with the abolition of the penny, along with male respondents (73%) and those over the age of 55 (70%).

Three-in-five Canadians (60%) oppose taking the nickel out of circulation in the country, while one third (32%) support this idea.

Quebecers (39%), men (38%) and Canadians aged 18-to-34 (36%) are more likely to endorse phasing out the five-cent coin.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From January 7 to January 8, 2013, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,008 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of representative national samples, three-in-five Canadians (62%, -1 since September) rate the current economic conditions in their country as “very good” or “good.”

In the United States, 23 per cent of respondents (+1) have positive views on the country’s finances. Britain continues to have the lowest numbers on this question, at 11 per cent (+2).

In Canada, almost three-in-four Albertans (73%) are satisfied with Canada’s economic conditions. Americans who reside in the Northeast and the West hold the highest numbers (27% each), while Londoners (at 16%) lead the rating in Britain.

More than half of Canadians (56%, -5) claim their own personal finances are currently “very good” or “good”, a view shared by 43 per cent of Americans (-3) and 38 per cent of Britons (-2).

While 16 per cent of Canadians expect their domestic economy to decline in the next six months, 30 per cent of Americans and 35 per cent of Britons foresee a downturn in their countries.

The biggest economic concerns in Canada are the value of investments (35% have worried “frequently” or “occasionally” about this), the safety of savings (34%) and unemployment affecting their household (33%). In the United States, these concerns are more prevalent (46%, 42% and 44% respectively). Britons are primarily worried about joblessness (37%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Full Methodology Details

The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/-2.2% for Great Britain, +/-3.1% for Canada and the United States. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of each country.

In the online survey of representative national samples, 56 per cent of Americans, 58 per cent of Canadians and 61 per cent of Britons either have or plan to buy an artificial tree for their home.

Conversely, one-in-five Canadians (21%) will have a real Christmas tree at their home, along with 18 per cent of Americans and 11 per cent of Britons.

A quarter of Americans (26%) will not have a Christmas tree at home this year—a proportion that is slightly higher in Britain (28%) and decidedly lower in Canada (21%).

Respondents who favour artificial Christmas trees cite convenience (74% in the United States, 69% in Britain, 68% in Canada) as the main reason for their choice. However, one third of respondents in the three countries also state that an artificial tree is actually more environmentally friendly than an artificial tree.

Real Christmas tree enthusiasts cite tradition as the main reason for their choice (67% in the United States, 62% in Canada and 60% in Britain).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Full Methodology Details

The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/-2.2% for Great Britain, +/-2.5% for Canada, and +/-3.1% for the United States. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of each country.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,000 Canadian adults, 44 per cent of respondents say they are “very concerned” or “moderately concerned” about gaining weight over the holidays.

A similar proportion of Canadians (43%) is worried about spending too much money on decorations, gifts and food (43%), while just over a third (36%) are preoccupied with carrying too much debt on credit cards.

Other minor concerns are having to travel during the holiday season (23%), running into relatives they don’t want to see (15%), drinking too much alcohol over the holidays (11%) and attending office holiday parties (10%).

Albertans and Quebecers are not particularly worried about gaining weight, while Atlantic Canadians and Ontarians are definitely more concerned about packing a few extra pounds come January.

Quebecers are more preoccupied about running into relatives they don’t want to see and attending office parties than respondents in other provinces.

Canadians will spend, on average, $994.50 on the holiday season, including decorations, gifts, food and parties. People in Atlantic Canada and Manitoba and Saskatchewan will spend more than $1,100, while British Columbians and Albertans are decidedly more frugal, keeping their tab below the $900-mark.

In all, 16 per cent of Canadians say they will spend more on this holiday season than they did last year, while three-in-five (61%) will spend about the same and one-in-five (21%) will spend less. British Columbians are the least likely to spend more this year (9%, compared to at least 12% in other provinces).

When asked how they have paid for their holiday expenses, Canadians outline that 40 per cent of their purchases have been made with a credit card, while 30 per cent have been paid for in cash and 29 per cent using a debit card.

The only region where cash is used more often than a credit card for holiday purchases is Atlantic Canada (37% to 32%), while the biggest gap is seen in Alberta (41% of holiday transactions involve a credit card, just 27% involve cash).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From December 10 to December 11, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,000 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of a representative sample of 1,000 Canadians, one-in-four respondents (26%) say they have followed news stories related to the proposed purchase “very closely” or “moderately closely.”

People in Alberta (41%) and British Columbia (35%) are paying more attention to this issue than those in Eastern Canada.

Under the Investment Canada Act, federal Industry Minister Christian Paradis is expected to pass judgment on the proposed takeover of Nexen by CNOOC on the basis of whether it provides a net benefit to Canada. A majority of Canadians (58%) believe the federal government should block the takeover, while only 12 per cent think it should be allowed.

British Columbians oppose the Nexen takeover by a 7-to-1 margin (69% to 7%). While one-in-five Albertans would prefer to allow the takeover (22%), three-in-five (63%) are against it.

Opposition to the proposed takeover is high across party lines, encompassing 65 per cent of Canadians who voted for the New Democratic Party (NDP) in the 2011 federal election, 59 per cent of Liberal Party voters and 57 per cent of Conservative Party voters.

Practically half of Canadians (48%) believe that, as a state-owned enterprise, CNOOC would have a competitive advantage over public companies. A sizeable majority of respondents (78%) think that foreign governments should not be able to control resources on Canadian soil.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From October 10 to October 11, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,000 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panellists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%, 19 times out of 20. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

In the online survey of representative national samples, most Canadians (63%) rate the current economic conditions in their country as “very good” or “good.”

In the United States, only one-in-five respondents (20%) feel the country’s economic conditions are positive. In Britain, the level of confidence is in the single digits (9%).

Respondents in Alberta (81%) are more likely to express satisfaction with Canada’s economic conditions than those in Quebec (61%), British Columbia (60%) and Ontario (59%).

In the United States, economic confidence is lowest in the West (15%). In Britain, respondents in Scotland are particularly despondent—only six per cent rate the economic conditions in the UK as “very good” or “good.”

While a majority of Canadians (61%) rate their own personal finances as “very good” or “good”, most Britons (55%) and Americans (53%) refer to them as “bad” or “very bad.”

Only 17 per cent of Canadians expect their country’s economy to decline in the next six months. This proportion jumps to 24 per cent in the United States and 38 per cent in Britain.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology – Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among:

The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/-2.2% for Great Britain, +/-2.5% for Canada, and +/-3.1% for the United States. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of each country.

In the online survey of representative national samples in four countries, a majority of respondents in Australia (57%) and Canada (58%) rate the economic conditions in their country as “very good” or “good.” Only 21 per cent of Americans and 12 per cent of Britons feel the same way about their own domestic economies.

While the proportion of Australians and Canadians who claim the economic conditions in their respective countries are “very bad” is in single digits (6% on both), it reaches 28 per cent in Britain and 29 per cent in the United States.

Two thirds of Australians (69%) and Canadians (67%) say they are “very optimistic” or “moderately optimistic” about the future—a view shared by 52 per cent of Americans and 43 per cent of Britons.

Respondents in the four countries were asked what they would do if they were given 1,000 dollars or pounds today. On average, Australians would devote more than two thirds of the money to pay down debt ($301), save in a bank account ($236) and spend on a holiday ($155).

Canadians are more likely to pay down debt and save than respondents from other countries, while Britons would allocate more money to spend on a holiday and cover daily expenses.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Peter Harris, Managing Director, Vision Critical AUS/NZ
+02 9256 2001
peter.harris@visioncritical.com

Full Methodology Details:

The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% for Canada and the United States, +/-2.5% for Australia, and +/-2.2% for Great Britain. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of each country.

In the online survey of a representative national sample of 1,005 American adults, 69 per cent of respondents oppose replacing the $1 dollar bill with a coin, while just one-in-four (25%) support this idea.

Respondents over the age of 55 (78%), women (73%) and Republicans (also 73%) are more likely to disagree with a move to create a coin that would take the place of the $1 dollar bill.

Some countries are considering or have decided to take their one-cent coins out of circulation.

Across the U.S., more than half of respondents (53%) voice opposition to taking the penny out of circulation in the United States, and rounding transactions to the nearest nickel, while more than a third (37%) would welcome this course of action.

Men are evenly split on the future of the penny in the United States (46% support taking it out of circulation, 46% oppose this notion), while women oppose abolishing the one-cent coin by a 2-to-1 margin (60% to 29%).

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From June 4 to June 5, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,005 randomly selected American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1%. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.

The online survey of representative national samples shows that almost half of Canadians (46%) believe that the United States is the country that has benefited the most from NAFTA. In the United States, 37 per cent of respondents believe that the big winner with the commerce deal is Mexico.

When asked about the agreement, 46 per cent of Canadians and 40 per cent of Americans say they would like their respective countries to do whatever is necessary to renegotiate the terms of NAFTA. About one-in-six respondents in the two countries (16% in Canada, 15% in the U.S.) believe the current terms of NAFTA are adequate, while a smaller proportion (8% in Canada, 13% in the U.S.) would like for their respective countries to leave the trade deal.

Canadians who voted for the Liberal Party (52%) in the last federal election are more likely to call for a renegotiation of NAFTA than those who supported the New Democratic Party (NDP) (47%) and the Conservative Party (44%). In the United States, Independents (44%) are more likely to suggest a revision of terms than Republicans (41%) and Democrats (36%).

At least half of Canadians believe that NAFTA has benefitted the national economy (54%), manufacturers (52%) and employers (50%), and a smaller proportion (46%) think the trade deal has been good for tourists. However, only one third of Canadians (34%) think NAFTA has been beneficial for Canadian workers. Albertans are more likely to express more positive views about the effect of NAFTA than respondents in other provinces.

In the United States, respondents are not as certain about NAFTA’s benefits. At least two-in-five believe the deal has been good for manufacturers (47%), employers (45%) and tourists (40%), but only one third (34%) think NAFTA has benefited the American economy, and just one-in-four (25%) say it has been good for workers. Respondents in the South hold more positive views on the trade deal.

Full Report, Detailed Tables and Methodology (PDF)

CONTACT:

Mario Canseco, Vice President, Angus Reid Public Opinion
+877 730 3570
mario.canseco@angus-reid.com

Methodology: From May 7 to May 8, 2012, Angus Reid Public Opinion conducted an online survey among 1,008 randomly selected Canadian adults who are Angus Reid Forum panelists, and 1,012 randomly selected American adults who are Springboard America panelists. The margin of error—which measures sampling variability—is +/- 3.1% for both countries. The results have been statistically weighted according to the most current education, age, gender and region Census data to ensure a sample representative of the entire adult population of Canada and the United States. Discrepancies in or between totals are due to rounding.