TORONTO — Pollster Harris-Decima says Canadians grew even more uncertain about their finances in August as job losses mounted and the U.S. economy appeared to remain on shaky ground.

The August Harris-Decima and Investor's Group consumer confidence index fell to 82.4 from the last reading of 85.9 in May.

About 26 per cent said in August they expected to be better off financially in a year, with only 14 per cent expecting to be worse off. That was slightly worse than in May, when 27 per cent said they were optimistic about things getting better during the year ahead.

Most Canadians surveyed did say they see good times ahead, but there was little agreement about when that will happen.

A majority of 55 per cent said they believe there will be good times financially for the Canadian economy in the next five years, with only 32 per cent saying they think things will get worse.

Canadians were, however, more optimistic than their southern neighbours, where the confidence index dropped to 68.9 from 73.6 recorded in May.