Quebec has the highest share of thrivers (38%) while New Brunswick has the largest percentage who say they are struggling (33%).
More than a quarter of respondents said they are pessimistic about where their finances might be at the end of 2025, although again this is a three-year low for this metric.
The report also found that the share of people saying that they are struggling with their rent or mortgage payments has fallen to 39% now compared to 44% in June, thanks to mortgage rates easing and rent rises easing. However, this rises to 61% among recent immigrants.
Food inflation remains a major concern though with 48% saying that feeding their household is “difficult” or “very difficult.” Grocery costs are particularly tough for newcomers to Canada with 63% of those who have lived in the country for less than a year finding these bills challenging compared to 47% of those who were born here.
More than half of all respondents said that the GST/HST exemption will make no difference to their finances at all, rising to 61% among those who say they are struggling.
