TORONTO, Feb. 8 (UPI) -- Canadians are less optimistic about their own finances and the economy than they were a year ago, a survey published by the Royal Bank of Canada showed Tuesday.
The online survey of 3,533 Canadians last month indicated 43 percent felt the national economy would improve during the next 12 months. A similar survey last year showed 56 percent were optimistic, RBC said in a release from Toronto.
As for personal finances, respondents' confidence in improvement also fell to 38 percent from 45 percent in last year's survey.
Ironically, RBC's bank chief economist, Craig Wright said as optimism is down, the bank is anticipating economic growth.
"While the pace of the recovery will remain moderate, we are projecting growth of 3.2 percent this year and 3.1 percent in 2012, representing the fastest pace of growth over the past four years," Wright said.
The survey also asked about job anxiety, by which the respondent or someone in their household was afraid of being laid off in the coming year. The level fell to 20 percent this year from 26 percent in last year's poll, RBC said.
The poll conducted by Ipsos Reid had a 1.65 percent margin of error, the pollster said.
