Metropolitan Outlook 2: Economic Insights into 15 Canadian Metropolitan Economies: Summer 2012

This publication focuses on the metropolitan economies of St. John’s, Moncton, Saint John, Saguenay, Trois-Rivières, Sherbrooke, Kingston, Oshawa, St. Catharines–Niagara, Kitchener, London, Windsor, Greater Sudbury, Thunder Bay, and Abbotsford.

Document Highlights

• Economic growth in St. John’s will slip to 1.1 per cent in 2012, pulled down by lower offshore oil production.
• Strength in manufacturing and the services sector will help lift Moncton’s economy by 2.1 per cent in 2012.
• Reduced construction activity will limit GDP growth in Saint John to 1.4 per cent this year.
• Saguenay’s GDP will grow by just 1.2 per cent this year as the non-commercial services sector contracts again.
• Weakness in construction will limit GDP growth in Trois-Rivières to 0.3 per cent in 2012.
• The ongoing recovery in Sherbrooke’s manufacturing sector will support GDP growth of 2.3 per cent in 2012.
• Lower housing starts and public sector weakness will restrict Kingston’s GDP growth to 1.7 per cent in 2012.
• Oshawa’s economy will expand by 3.3 per cent in 2012, boosted by gains in construction and the services sector.
• Strength in construction and manufacturing will help lift St. Catharines–Niagara’s GDP by 2.2 per cent in 2012.
• Kitchener–Cambridge–Waterloo’s economy will grow by 3.3 per cent in 2012, boosted by manufacturing growth.
• Goods sector strength will offset sluggish growth in services in London this year, leading to 1.7 per cent GDP growth.
• The Windsor–Essex Parkway project will help spur overall economic growth of 2.1 per cent in Windsor in 2012.
• Gains in the manufacturing and construction sectors will help Sudbury’s GDP expand by 2.2 per cent in 2012.
• Thunder Bay’s economy will expand by 1.9 per cent this year, fuelled by goods sector strength.
• Solid consumer spending will help lift Abbotsford–Mission’s economy by 2.4 per cent this year.