January 6, 2025 — Canada’s longest running economic outlook tracking survey finds Canadians’ 2025 financial outlook improving after two difficult years, with the share of Canadians who expect to fall behind in the coming year down from 50% in 2023 and 46% in 2024, to 40% for 2025.
Despite this improving outlook, clouds of anxiety still hang in the air, with 48% of Canadians “worried” about their finances, more than any other emotion. This anxiety is being driven by high grocery and housing prices, as these remain the largest stress points for Canadians:
| % Canadians who consider the following a major source of stress: | |
| Cost of food at the grocery store | 41% |
| Housing expenses | 33% |
| Income taxes | 23% |
| Cost of gas at the pump | 23% |
| Loan/debt repayments | 21% |
| Monthly home heating | 20% |
| Electricity bills | 20% |
Housing pressures remain most acute among Canadians under 50, with 41% of them considering this a major source of stress.
See the full details in our report and commentary on the study in the Toronto Star.
