MONCTON, NB – A new payroll survey suggests many of us are living paycheque to paycheque but fewer of us are struggling to make ends meet than last year.

According to the Canadian Payroll Association, 47 per cent of Canadians would be in financial difficulty if their pay was delayed by even a week — down from 57 per cent last year.

Here in the Maritimes, 54 per cent say they would be in financial difficulty if their pay was delayed by even a week.

Diane Windsor of the Canadian Payroll Association says you don’t have to look far to figure out why we’re living hand-to-mouth.

“Two in five Canadians are living are spending at or in excess of their net pay.”  says Windsor.

Windsor says 79 per cent of Atlantic Canadians have saved less than a quarter of what they need to retire.

She says what’s concerning is the numbers are really high even when only looking at those less than 10 years away from retirement.