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BCREA ECONOMICS NOW Canadian Monthly GDP (February) - April 30, 2018 The Canadian economy bounced back in February after a down month in January. Real GDP grew 0.4 per cent on a monthly basis in February, led by higher output in the manufacturing and construction sector as well as a rebound in mining and oil and gas extraction. The output of offices of real estate agents and brokers across Canada fell for a second consecutive month due to the ongoing impact of the B20 stress test. Given today's release, growth in the Canadian economy is tracking at just under 2 per cent for the first quarter of 2018. Continued above trend growth and rising inflation signal further interest rates increases by the Bank of Canada, possibly as soon as the end of May. For inquiries regarding statistical and economics-related news releases, please contact:
Cameron Muir; Chief Economist, 604.742.2780, cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca Brendon Ogmundson; Economist, 604.742.2796, bogmundson@bcrea.bc.ca The Housing Market Update video webcast is produced monthly by the British Columbia Real Estate Association. Real estate boards, real estate associations and REALTORS® may reprint this content, provided that credit is given to BCREA by including the following statement: "Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission." BCREA makes no guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Copyright© British Columbia Real Estate Association 1420 – 701 Georgia Street West PO Box 10123, Pacific Centre - Vancouver, BC V7Y 1C6 Phone 604.683.7702, Fax 604.683.8601 www.bcrea.bc.ca bcrea@bcrea.bc.ca BCREA ECONOMICS NOW Bank of Canada Interest Rate Announcement - April 18, 2018 The Bank of Canada decided to leave the target for the overnight policy rate unchanged at 1.25 per cent this morning. In the statement accompanying the decision, the Bank noted that inflation is forecast to be slightly higher in 2018 than originally expected but will return to the Bank's 2 per cent target once the impact of higher gas prices and minimum wage increases dissipate. While the mortgage stress test has been a contributor to weaker growth in the first quarter of 2018, the Bank expects the economy to be operating at above potential over the next three years, growing at an average rate of about 2 per cent. Although the Bank held steady today, with inflation rising to the Bank's two per cent target and many Canadian firms operating at or near capacity, interest rates are very likely headed higher this year. Headwinds from the trade sector have moderated, energy prices are higher and growth for the first quarter appears to be firming after a slow start. Given those trends, the Bank is likely to adjust its policy rate higher in coming months. That will translate to higher mortgage rates which, combined with the erosion of purchasing power from the mortgage stress test, will temper housing demand in 2018. For inquiries regarding statistical and economics-related news releases, please contact:
Cameron Muir; Chief Economist, 604.742.2780, cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca Brendon Ogmundson; Economist, 604.742.2796, bogmundson@bcrea.bc.ca The Housing Market Update video webcast is produced monthly by the British Columbia Real Estate Association. Real estate boards, real estate associations and REALTORS® may reprint this content, provided that credit is given to BCREA by including the following statement: "Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission." BCREA makes no guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Copyright© British Columbia Real Estate Association 1420 – 701 Georgia Street West PO Box 10123, Pacific Centre - Vancouver, BC V7Y 1C6 Phone 604.683.7702, Fax 604.683.8601 www.bcrea.bc.ca bcrea@bcrea.bc.ca
Click on image to watch BCREA Chief Economist Cameron Muir discuss the March 2018 statistics:
For inquiries regarding statistical and economics-related news releases, please contact:
Cameron Muir; Chief Economist, 604.742.2780, cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca Brendon Ogmundson; Economist, 604.742.2796, bogmundson@bcrea.bc.ca The Housing Market Update video webcast is produced monthly by the British Columbia Real Estate Association. Real estate boards, real estate associations and REALTORS® may reprint this content, provided that credit is given to BCREA by including the following statement: "Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission." BCREA makes no guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Copyright© British Columbia Real Estate Association 1420 – 701 Georgia Street West PO Box 10123, Pacific Centre - Vancouver, BC V7Y 1C6 Phone 604.683.7702, Fax 604.683.8601 www.bcrea.bc.ca bcrea@bcrea.bc.ca BCREA ECONOMICS NOW Canadian Employment - April 6, 2018 Canadian employment grew by 32,000 jobs in March, driven by mostly full-time gains while the national unemployment rate remained unchanged at 5.8 per cent. Over the past 12-months, employment in Canada is up by close to 300,000 jobs while total hours worked is up 2.2 per cent. For the first quarter, however, employment is down 40,000 jobs due large job losses to start the year. In BC, employment fell by 3,900 jobs as a surge in full-time employment (up almost 24,000 jobs) was offset by falling part-time employment. Overall, the level of employment in BC has been trending sideways for several months and was up just 1.3 per cent year-over-year in March. The provincial unemployment rate was unchanged at 4.7 per cent. For inquiries regarding statistical and economics-related news releases, please contact:
Cameron Muir: Chief Economist 604.742.2780 cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca Brendon Ogmundson: Economist 604.742.2796 bogmundson@bcrea.bc.ca The Housing Market Update video podcast is produced monthly by the British Columbia Real Estate Association. Real estate boards, real estate associations and REALTORS® may reprint this content, provided that credit is given to BCREA by including the following statement: "Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission." BCREA makes no guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Copyright© British Columbia Real Estate Association 1420 – 701 Georgia Street West, PO Box 10123, Pacific Centre Vancouver, BC V7Y 1C6 Phone 604.683.7702 Fax 604.683.8601 www.bcrea.bc.ca bcrea@bcrea.bc.ca Read BCREA's latest BCREA Market Intelligence Report: The Economic Fallout of Housing Price Shocks. Additional economics information is available on BCREA's website at: www.bcrea.bc.ca/news-and-publications/economics/forecasts-and-presentations. For inquiries regarding statistical and economics-related news releases, please contact:
Cameron Muir: Chief Economist 604.742.2780 cmuir@bcrea.bc.ca Brendon Ogmundson: Economist 604.742.2796 bogmundson@bcrea.bc.ca The Housing Market Update video podcast is produced monthly by the British Columbia Real Estate Association. Real estate boards, real estate associations and REALTORS® may reprint this content, provided that credit is given to BCREA by including the following statement: "Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission." BCREA makes no guarantees as to the accuracy or completeness of this information. Copyright© British Columbia Real Estate Association 1420 – 701 Georgia Street West, PO Box 10123, Pacific Centre Vancouver, BC V7Y 1C6 Phone 604.683.7702 Fax 604.683.8601 www.bcrea.bc.ca bcrea@bcrea.bc.ca |
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