Consumer Behavior

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Three Quarters (74%) Of Canadians Think Microwave Is Important Day-To-Day Cooking Tool...More Than Half (56%)Use Microwave Mostly To Reheat

Personal Economic Outlook, "Big-Ticket" And Everyday Spending Intentions Also Dampen Index
However, Fundamentals Still In Place As Canadians Give National Economic Outlook Thumbs Up For Now and Future With Home Purchase Intentions, Low Job Anxiety Fuelling Confidence

Canadians Expect To Spend Close To $1,500 This Year On Gifts, Decorations, Food, And More
Six In Ten (58%) Don't Budget And Spend As They Go...Four In Ten (38%) Are Last-Minute Shoppers

Four In Ten (43%) Canadians Plan To Spend The Most On Kids This Year--Will Spend An Average Of More Than $350 On Person Who Gets The Most
Two-Thirds (67%) Of Canadians Receive Bad Gifts--Friends (18%) And In-Laws (16%) Among Worst Gift Givers--Gifts Will Likely End Up In The Closet (33%)
Clothes (12%)And Electronics (10%) Top Canadians' Wish Lists

Home Purchase Intentions, Near Record Low Job Anxiety, And Positive Interest Rate Predictions Drive Economic Outlook
But, Personal Economic Outlook, Big-Ticket And Everyday Spending Intentions Soften Optimism
Ipsos-Reid Canadian Economic Confidence Index Slips 2.36 Points Since September To 110.71

But Canadians Split on Pope's Pronouncements - 47% Agree; 46% Disagree
John Paul Viewed as Sincere (85%), A Peacemaker (80%), Humble (79%) and Conservative (79%)

Majority (63%) Of Canadians Believe Post 9/11 Security Measures Hinder Canada/U.S. Business Relations--Almost Half (45%) Of Americans Agree
Better Use Of Technology At Border (28%), Common Currency (21%) Top Americans' List Of What Would Best Improve Business Relations Between The Two Countries--Canadians Say A Change Of Top Leadership In Countries Would Be Best
Majorities In Both Countries Against National Identity Card

Home Purchase Intentions (14% Likely to Buy) and Near Record Low Job Anxiety (18%) Drive Economic Outlook
One-Year Outlook on Canadian Economy Highest Since April 2003, Matches Robust Numbers in July 2000
Ipsos-Reid Canadian Economic Confidence Index Up 0.74 Points Since August to 113.07