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Canadian consumer confidence fell in March, the Conference Board of Canada said yesterday, as concerns about future finances put consumers in a more pessimistic mood.

The board’s index of consumer confidence dipped two points in March to 94.5, erasing February’s modest 1.2 per cent rise, according to the monthly survey based on 2,000 telephone interviews.

Despite the drop, the figure was in stark contrast to a comparable number in the United States, where Conference Board Inc. reported its index fell nearly 12 points to 64.5.

The contrast between the two economies was also seen yesterday in employment reports for March.

Canada added 14,600 jobs, almost dead-on analysts’ expectations, while the U.S http://payday-nofax.com. economy shed 80,000 jobs, missing the market forecast for a decline of 60,000.

The Statistics Canada jobs report showed that Canada’s manufacturing sector has lost 113,300 jobs since March 2007.

But Ontario was the only province where consumer confidence rose in March. Even with its one-point gain, confidence in Ontario was below the national average

After a strong rebound last month, the index for the Atlantic provinces tumbled by 8.4 points. Quebec was down by 0.9, the Prairie provinces by 4.8 points, and British Columbia by 6.7 points.

Reuters News Agency

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