[Nickel]

58% remain optimistic for 2009, but survey shows less cheer among wealthier respondents
Dec 29, 2008 04:30 AM

Terry Pedwell
THE CANADIAN PRESS

OTTAWA–A new poll suggests a majority of Canadians remain optimistic as they look ahead to 2009 – despite all the gloomy recession talk.

The Canadian Press-Harris/Decima survey found 58 per cent of respondents were upbeat about the coming year, and only 21 per cent were pessimistic.

Another 20 per cent said their outlook was neither optimistic nor pessimistic.

The poll found less cheer among the wealthiest respondents – those earning a family income of more than $100,000 a year – than among those earning less than $60,000.

In the lower-income bracket, 61 per cent said they're looking forward to 2009.

That compares to 54 per cent among high-end earners. Fewer than one-third of overall respondents said their net worth had declined in 2008, while 42 per cent with household incomes above $100,000 said their investments had dropped in value.

Ontario and British Columbia residents were more likely to respond that their net worth had plummeted.

Stock markets were expected to close out 2008 with a lot of red ink. At the close of trading last week, the TSX was down nearly 40 per cent since the beginning of the year. Despite the losses, and predictions of rising unemployment in 2009, most poll respondents were upbeat about their work, with more than two-thirds expressing little or no concern about their job prospects over the next six months.

Employment concerns were the lowest on the Prairies. In Manitoba and Saskatchewan, only 15 per cent of respondents expressed worries about losing jobs.

Jeff Walker, senior vice-president of Harris/Decima, said "on the whole, the deepening pessimism expressed by some financial analysts and media observers does not appear to be shared by the majority of Canadians."

As well, most Canadians don't plan to postpone major purchases, the poll found.

Only 29 per cent of those asked said they would defer major purchases until 2010; 70 per cent said they were likely to stick to plans to buy big-ticket items. The poll of more than 1,000 respondents was conducted Dec. 21 to 24 and has a margin of error of 3.1 percentage points, 19 times in 20.

[Blacksmith]

Just shows the Canadian sheeples are eating the shit the government is feeding them.

Can the sheeples say deficit spending, or do they have any idea what it is.

[WildRose]

Until there are significant numbers of jobs lost, the average Canadian likely will be optimistic and will stay on course with their plans.

Personally, I would not take on a large mortgage right now, no way, no how.