XPost: can.atlantic.general, can.francais, can.taxes   
   From: abc@123.cl   
      
   Canadians more optimistic about economy   
      
   September 29, 2009   
      
   Rising optimism about a job market in which unemployment is   
   nevertheless running at an 11-year high of 8.7% helped lift the index,   
   which measures consumer attitudes toward major economic trends.   
      
   OTTAWA -- Canadians' optimism about the economy rose for the seventh   
   straight month in September, the longest streak of consecutive   
   increases since 2002, the Conference Board of Canada reported Tuesday.   
      
   The board's confidence index climbed 2.5 percentage points during the   
   month, lifting the measure to a reading of 90.9 after having fallen to   
   67.7 in the depths of the economic downturn late last year.   
      
   It is the index's highest reading since April 2008.   
      
   Rising optimism about a job market in which unemployment is   
   nevertheless running at an 11-year high of 8.7% helped lift the index,   
   which measures consumer attitudes toward major economic trends.   
      
   The share of respondents who said they expect more jobs six months from   
   now rose 1.3 points to 22.8%, three times higher than in January.   
      
   Respondents' greater optimism about their current financial situation   
   also contributed, as the number who felt their families were worse off   
   today than six months ago fell 3.2 percentage points to 23.6%. At the   
   same time, those who felt they were better off rose 1.3 points to   
   13.7%.   
      
   However, respondents' pessimism about their future economic conditions   
   also rose, with the number who said they would be better off falling   
   0.8 percentage points to 27.5.   
      
   Attitudes toward making a major consumer purchase moved into positive   
   territory, and at a reading of 49.9%, reached its highest point since   
   November 2007.   
      
   Regionally, the only area where consumer confidence fell was the   
   Prairies.   
      
   The study was conducted in early September and has a margin of error of   
   plus or minus 2.2%.   
      
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