TORONTO — Canadian consumer confidence is ending the year off more subdued, despite an upswing early in 2010, according to a new poll.

A Harris/Decima phone survey done for the Investor's Group measured consumer confidence at 82.8 in November, little changed from the third quarter.

Harris/Decima says consumer confidence hit a post-recession high of 89 in February, but fell for two quarters.

The poll results are consistent with a report issued last week by the Conference Board of Canada, which found that consumer confidence sat at 81 this month, virtually unchanged from December 2009.

The Canadian confidence readings are more positive than U.S. numbers released Tuesday, that showed consumer confidence in that country slid to 52.5 in December, down from 54.3 in November, amid high unemployment.

The Canadian poll released Wednesday found that Quebec, and the Prairies were the most confident regions in the country, with numbers at 84.6 in Quebec and 88.3 in Manitoba and Saskatchewan -- above the national average in November.

British Columbia was the least confident province, ending the year at 78.4 in the fourth quarter. That reversed stronger numbers at the beginning of the year, when the index in that province stood at 88.3.

Ontario also saw a large decline, with 81.5 in the final quarter, down from 86.5 at the beginning of the year.

Just over 1,000 Canadians were interviewed by phone by Harris/Decima in November. The poll has a margin of error of 2.2 per cent, 19 times out of 20.