Canadians are increasingly feeling the pinch of rising prices and responding by shifting their purchasing behaviour, as tensions surrounding U.S. tariffs under President Donald Trump continue to build. According to a new Trump Tariffs Tracker survey conducted by Leger between May 9 and 11, a clear majority of Canadians are noticing inflationary pressures and are changing how and where they shop, with growing support for buying local and reducing American purchases.
Majority of Canadians Report Price Increases
Seventy-five percent of Canadians surveyed said they believe consumer prices have increased in recent weeks. The perception is consistent across most regions and age groups, with the highest concern reported in Atlantic Canada (85%) and among older Canadians aged 55 and over (80%). Only 15% of respondents said they had not noticed price increases, and a further 10% were unsure.
This growing sense of inflation is not unique to Canada. South of the border, 69% of Americans also reported price increases, although this figure marks a four-point drop from the previous week. Notably, perceptions in the U.S. were influenced by political alignment: 87% of Democrats believed prices were rising, compared to 54% of Republicans.
Canadian Consumers Turning Away from U.S. Goods
In response to rising prices and growing unease over tariff policies, Canadian consumers are increasingly shifting away from American goods and services. The Leger report reveals that 69 percent of Canadians say they have reduced their purchases of American-made products sold in stores. A similar proportion—66 percent—report buying fewer U.S. goods online, and 55 percent say they have scaled back their purchases on the Amazon platform. American fast-food chains have also been affected, with 51 percent of Canadians indicating they are now frequenting brands such as McDonald’s, Starbucks, KFC, Burger King, and Subway less often. Meanwhile, 43 percent of those surveyed said they are cutting back on visits to major U.S. retail chains, including Walmart, Costco, and Winners.
These findings point to a growing trend of economic disengagement from American consumer brands, reflecting both political dissatisfaction and personal financial recalibration. With inflation concerns mounting and retaliatory trade measures in place, Canadian shoppers are sending a signal through their wallets, choosing to support domestic alternatives or limit discretionary spending altogether.
Surge in Support for Local Spending
Alongside this shift, support for local Canadian businesses is growing. Seventy-four percent of Canadians said they had increased their purchases of local products in recent weeks. Support for domestic spending was especially strong among supporters of the Liberal Party (86%) and Bloc Québécois (84%).
This trend toward “buying Canadian” aligns with national sentiment around economic resilience and self-reliance, particularly as retaliatory tariffs begin to impact a wider range of goods and services.
Support for Tariff Retaliation Remains Strong
Two-thirds of Canadians (67%) support the federal government’s decision to respond “dollar for dollar” to tariffs imposed by the United States. This includes 33% who strongly support the measure. Support is highest among Liberal (83%) and Green Party (86%) voters, while 52% of Conservative voters also back the retaliation.
Despite a slight dip in support compared to the previous week (down two points), national consensus appears to favour defending Canadian interests through reciprocal trade policies.
Public Opinion on the Carney–Trump Meeting
Awareness of the May 6 meeting between Canadian Prime Minister Mark Carney and U.S. President Donald Trump was notably high, with 80 percent of Canadians indicating they had seen, read, or heard about the event. However, views on the outcome were mixed. While 24 percent of respondents said they believed the meeting would improve Canada–U.S. relations, a larger portion—40 percent—felt it would have no real impact. Another 13 percent said they thought the meeting would actually worsen bilateral relations.
When asked to assess Prime Minister Carney’s performance, nearly half of Canadians (48 percent) said he clearly stood up for Canada’s interests during the meeting. A further 24 percent said they believed Carney should have taken a stronger stance against Trump. The remaining respondents were either unsure (20 percent) or said they had not heard enough about the meeting to form an opinion (8 percent). These findings underscore both the complexity of cross-border diplomacy in the current political climate and the nuanced expectations Canadians have of their leaders when navigating high-stakes international discussions.
Tariff Impact Seen as Economic Threat
Concern about the economic impact of the Trump administration’s tariffs remains high. Seventy-nine percent of Canadians believe the tariffs will have a negative effect on the Canadian economy. Only 9% see a potential benefit, and 11% remain unsure.
In the United States, opinion is more divided: 54% of Americans believe the tariffs are bad for their own economy, while 27% see them as positive — with strong partisan splits. Among Republicans, 57% believe tariffs will help the U.S. economy, compared to just 7% of Democrats.
Personal Financial Pressure Intensifies
The report shows that 91% of Canadians expect the tariffs will have an impact on their personal financial situation. A full 24% say they will have a major impact, while 47% anticipate a moderate one. Only 3% believe the tariffs will have no impact at all.
Similar sentiment was recorded in the United States, where 82% expect the tariffs to affect their personal finances.
Adding to the financial strain, 43% of Canadians reported living paycheque to paycheque, a figure only slightly lower than the 55% reported in the U.S. Younger Canadians (ages 18–34) and those in Ontario and Alberta reported the highest levels of financial stress.
Recession Worries on Both Sides of the Border
Nearly half (49%) of Canadians believe the country is currently in a recession, with higher concern among those in Alberta (68%). In the U.S., the share of Americans who believe they are in a recession dropped five points from the previous week to 47%.
Despite these concerns, 67% of Canadians still describe their household finances as either “good” or “very good,” although that number is down compared to earlier in the year.
Job Security Remains a Concern
Among employed Canadians, 39% expressed concern about losing their job in the next 12 months, with 13% saying they are “very concerned.” Americans reported slightly higher concern levels at 43%, with younger workers particularly anxious.
Conclusion
As trade tensions continue to escalate and inflationary pressures mount, Canadians are increasingly adapting their shopping habits and voicing support for policies that bolster domestic resilience. With more than two-thirds of respondents backing retaliatory tariffs and nearly three-quarters choosing to buy local, the data reflects a growing desire among Canadians to protect their economy and shield themselves from the impact of foreign policy decisions.
