A shopper carries their purchases as crowds visit Toronto's Eaton Centre shopping mall.Chris Young/The Canadian Press
The Conference Board of Canada says its consumer confidence index posted its first gain in three months, even as Alberta hit a new low.
The national index climbed 3.7 points in February to 83.7.
However, the results were mixed regionally, with Ontario, Quebec and B.C. more optimistic as confidence fell in Atlantic Canada, the Saskatchewan–Manitoba region and Alberta.
Ontario gained 7.6 points to 91.8, while Quebec added 4.1 points to reach 93.4.
Consumer confidence in Alberta reached a new low, falling 3.8 points to 30.4.
The Ottawa-based think-tank says Alberta's view on current finances and future job prospects declined compared with January.