Nearly half of Canadians are feeling a pinch to their pocketbooks due to rising prices at the pumps and in the grocery store, according to a new survey.

The RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook Index, a quarterly report, found 45 per cent of those surveyed were being significantly affected by rising prices.

The rate was highest in Ontario, where 51 per cent said they were feeling the effects of high gas and grocery prices.

Atlantic Canada was a close second with 49 per cent reporting difficulties paying the grocery and gas bill. In Quebec 48 per cent of those surveyed were feeling the pinch.

In the Prairie provinces of Saskatchewan and Manitoba, only 32 per cent of those surveyed said rising food and gas prices have had a significant impact on their budget.

The survey also asked Canadians whether they had delayed major purchases due to current economic conditions.

In total, 55 per cent of respondents said they had put off major purchases until the situation improves -- an increase of 3 per cent compared to last quarter.

That number was once again highest in Ontario where 60 per cent of those surveyed said they had put off major purchases. Quebec followed with 55 per cent, then Atlantic Canada at 54 per cent.

Again, Saskatchewan and Manitoba were least affected, with 43 per cent reporting they had put off major purchases due to the current economic climate.

When asked more generally about their personal outlook over the next year, 39 per cent of those surveyed said they expected their situation to improve, compared to 22 per cent who thought it would worsen.

Albertans had the most positive outlook, with 45 per cent expecting an improvement in the next year, compared to 20 per cent who expected the situation to worsen.

Those surveyed in Atlantic Canada had the least favourable outlook, with 31 per cent -- a drop of 13 per cent from the last quarter -- expecting their personal financial situation to improve over the next year.

The RBC Canadian Consumer Outlook Index surveys 3,000 adults across the country in an attempt to gauge Canadians' feelings about the economy and their spending plans.

The March 2011 survey was conducted online by Ipsos Reid and has a margin of error of plus-minus 1.65 percentage points, 19 times out of 20.