XPost: can.general, can.politics, soc.culture.canada 
 From: gregpcarr@yahoo.ca 
  
 On Mon, 17 Aug 2009 07:34:20 -0700, abc  wrote: 
  
 > 
 >Canada seen moving up in economic rankings 
 > 
 > 
 >August 17, 2009 
 > 
 > 
 >TORONTO - Canada is expected to move up in global economic rankings in 
 >2009 and 2010 as the recession lingers in other countries, buoyed by a 
 >stable bank sector and lower unemployment, a study showed on Thursday. 
 > 
 >After ranking 11th of 17 developed countries in the Conference Board of 
 >Canada's 2008 report card, Canada is expected to vault to 5th place in 
 >2010, based on economic forecasts by the Organization for Economic Co- 
 >operation and Development (OECD), the Conference Board said. 
 > 
 >Using the OECD's forecasts for growth, unemployment and other economic 
 >factors over the next two years, the board found Canada was poised to 
 >come out of the global recession ahead of many peers, pushing it up the 
 >rankings for international economic performance. 
 > 
 >Belgium and the United States were also expected to move up, while 
 >Britain, the Netherlands and Switzerland are expected to fall, it said. 
 > 
 >"Canada is expected to weather the global recession better than most of 
 >its peers, which is a credit to its stable financial sector and a 
 >relatively healthier economic position upon entering the downturn," 
 >said Conference Board Chief Economist Glen Hodgson. 
 > 
 >Despite substantial movement among the 17 countries, the top and bottom 
 >positions are not expected to change between 2008 and 2010. Norway is 
 >expected to retain first place in both 2009 and 2010, buoyed by its 
 >resilient economy and large petroleum sector. Ireland is forecast to 
 >remain in 17th place both years. 
 > 
 >A separate report issued on Thursday showed a growing number of 
 >Canadians are upbeat about the prospects for the national economy and 
 >employment situation in six months. 
 > 
 >The TNS Canadian Facts' Consumer Confidence Index rose to 99.2 in 
 >August, up six percentage points from July's 93.4 reading. 
 > 
 >"Bank of Canada Governor Mark Carney declared last month that the 
 >recession is over. While unemployed Canadians may not agree with this 
 >assessment, the fact is consumer confidence has been trending upward 
 >since it fell to an all-time low last December," said Michael Antecol, 
 >director of the marketing research company's monthly tracking study. 
 > 
 >"Canadians are increasingly optimistic. Their battered investment 
 >portfolios have recovered somewhat since last fall, housing prices are 
 >up in several markets, and the key lending rate is at historic lows," 
 >he added. 
 Hopefully this will lead to an increase in employment. 
  
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