Eight out of 10 Canadians are worried about the economy, with many people more concerned about how the recession will impact others than themselves, according to a Leger Marketing survey conducted on behalf of Sun Life Financial.

The unease around the economy also has many Canadians rethinking their spending habits with two-thirds of respondents indicating that they have reduced their spending in some way with 27% ensuring that they are spending less.

To help Canadians make sense of what’s happening in the world around them, Sun Life Financial has launched Today’s economy, www.sunlife.ca/todayseconomy, a comprehensive website with resources available for people seeking help with market volatility, stress and job loss.

“We know this is a confusing and stressful time for many people, but there are many steps you can take to stay on track to reach your long-term financial goals even when dealing with the unexpected, such as losing your job,” says Dean Connor, president, Sun Life Financial Canada. “Our mission is to help Canadians achieve lifetime financial security, so we created the Today’s economy website to provide people with the information and guidance they need to take care of themselves and their families.”

The new website goes beyond financial matters to discuss health and well-being through a section on coping with stress. The site also has tips about reducing day-to-day spending, advice about dealing with job loss, and information related to investing in a volatile market. Visitors to the site can join in the conversation and share their views on the latest financial and economic news via a Today’s economy blog.

The survey was conducted using a national random sample of 1,680 adult Canadians from Leger Marketing’s Web panel. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of +-2.4%, 19 times out of 20. Surveys were conducted between March 25 and March 29.

IE