Household confidence down

Canadian household confidence fell as views of the country’s economic prospects hit the lowest in six months, telephone polling showed. The Bloomberg Nanos Canadian Confidence Index declined to 56.5 in the week ended Sept. 23, the lowest level since April and down from 56.7 in the prior period. It was the gauge’s fifth straight decline. Among the survey’s findings was pessimism about the economy is taking over from concern about the nation’s real estate market, after Bank of Canada governor Stephen Poloz said last week the country is still facing strong headwinds. The share of survey respondents who see the economy getting stronger in six months fell to 20.9, the lowest reading since March. Confidence was highest in Ontario at 60.2 and lowest on the Prairies at 50.1. In British Columbia, confidence recovered from the lowest since August, increasing to 55.1 from 54.2.