Inflation’s Ripple Effect Leaving Canadians Under Growing Financial Pressure and Anxiety

May 6, 2026 – Toronto, Ontario –As higher oil prices drive a steep climb in costs at the gas pump and push up prices throughout the supply chain, a new CityNews/Canada Pulse Insights survey finds many Canadians under intense financial pressure, with three times as many saying their personal finances worsened in the last month (30%) as improved (10%), for a net score of -20 — and not a single demographic group or region reporting a net gain. Lower income Canadians (under $50,000: -33), older adults 55+ (-25), women (-22), and residents of Atlantic Canada (-29), Alberta (-26) and British Columbia (-25) report the steepest declines in their financial position.

‍