Less than 50% of Canadians financially optimistic amid U.S. tariffs: survey
Global News
The annual Salvation Army survey found 86% agreed the tariffs were driving up the cost of household staples, and 79% believed they were hurting low-income households the most.
Most Canadians believe U.S. tariffs are hitting them in their pocketbooks, according to a new report from the Salvation Army that suggests financial optimism is flagging.
The online survey of more than 1,500 Canadians found 86 per cent agreed the tariffs were driving up the cost of household staples, and 79 per cent believed American trade policies were hurting low-income households the most.
“As we look at things like the impact of U.S. tariffs driving up prices on everyday goods, certainly we see a lot of Canadians responding to the survey expressing that they have seen this to be true,” said Glenn van Gulik, territorial communications manager for The Salvation Army Canada.
The Annual Canadian Poverty and Socioeconomic Analysis also found the portion of Canadians who feel optimistic about their finances dropped from 51 per cent last year to 46 per cent this year.
It found concerns around jobs are growing, with 22 per cent of respondents saying unemployment and job insecurity were among their three biggest worries, compared to 14 per cent last year and 10 per cent in 2023.
Health care remains the most common worry for Canadians, though the percentage dropped between 2024 and 2025, from 59 per cent to 51 per cent saying it concerns them.
Still, the news out of the report wasn’t entirely bad.
Those dealing with health issues dropped from 54 per cent last year to 47 per cent this year.
