Provincial Forecast
Get the latest Canadian economic forecasts to fully understand Canada’s provincial economic stance.
The ICS Dips Lower in July With No Sign of Improvement in August: Index of Consumer Spending
Canadian Economics October 22, 2024
Household primary income has increased at a modest pace throughout the first half of the year. Primary income is expected to continue growing in the second half of the year but at a much slower pace as lower productivity and a cooling labour market weigh on wage growth.
Online experience • 8-min read
Canadian Consumers are Regaining Confidence: Index of Consumer Confidence
Canadian Economics October 15, 2024
Unlike last month, Albertans are feeling less confident about their finances in this month’s survey. The proportion of Albertan households believing their current financial situation has improved compared with six months ago dropped 0.1 points in September to 29.9 per cent.
Online experience • 8-min read
Letting the Dominoes Fall: Canadian Outlook
Canadian Economics October 10, 2024
The Canadian economy is inching toward a more stable and healthy growth path. Interest rates began their much-anticipated descent in June, and two additional 25-basis-point cuts have been announced since. Meanwhile, inflation finally reached the Bank of Canada’s 2.0 per cent target in August, signalling better days for consumers and businesses.
Online experience • 8-min read
Stuck in a Holding Pattern? Travel Markets Outlook
Canadian Economics October 3, 2024
For an industry that’s desperately seeking a return to normal, the year ahead will remain atypical. Canada’s tourism operators continue to face off against the incomplete recovery of international visitors and a domestic market that is financially constrained.
Online experience • 8-min read
A Reprieve from the Decline in August: Canadian Hiring Index
Canadian Economics September 19, 2024
A broad-based increase in the volume of job postings in August brings relief from the steady decline of the indexes at the national and provincial levels. Disentangling monthly volatility from a material improvement in the labour market will rely on further positive prints in the coming months.
Online experience • 8-min read
Southern Exposure: Provincial Outlook
Canadian Economics September 18, 2024
With inflation largely contained and entering the upper range of the Bank of Canada’s 1- to 3-per-cent target range, the Canadian economy is entering a new phase of the business cycle. The Bank of Canada was a first mover on interest rates in June, reducing the policy rate a quarter point to 4.75 per cent, which was followed by another 25-basis-point cut in late July.
Online experience • 8-min read
Jaded in July: Labour Force Contracts and Jobs Flatline
Canadian Economics August 9, 2024
In July, employment in Canada was little changed on the previous month, marking a third consecutive month of stagnant job growth. The size of the labour force fell by 11,000, the first contraction since June 2022. This decline was fuelled by lower labour force participation among young men and women. Meanwhile, the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 6.4 per cent.
Quick take • 3-min read
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Summer Sunshine Fails to Reach the Labour Market in May
Canadian Economics June 7, 2024
The economy has now added a monthly average of 39,000 jobs over the first five months of the year, a respectable pace given the headwinds caused by high interest rates. However, these gains pale in comparison to the growth of Canada’s working age population, which this year has grown at a searing pace of over 100,000 per month, or, in annualized terms, 3.7 per cent.
Quick take • 2-min read
April Showers Didn’t Dampen the Labour Market
Canadian Economics May 10, 2024
In a weaker business environment, hiring across the economy has slowed. April was an exception to generally softer labour demand, but the fundamentals so far in 2024 remain on the weaker side. Rising labour supply and falling demand is reducing tightness in the labour market. Lower competition for workers is gradually weighing on wage growth, which we expect to decelerate further over the coming months.
Quick take • 3-min read
A Need to Shift Gears: Canada’s Outlook to 2045
Canadian Economics January 15, 2024
Canada’s economy is beginning its path toward the next 20 years from a standing start. With zero growth through most of 2023 and into 2024, the nature of how well it can recover structurally will set the tone for Canada’s long-term prospects.
Impact paper • 20-min read
Chill Lingers in the Labour Market as Winter Recedes
Canadian Economics April 5, 2024
Little excitement as torpor prevails in Canada’s labour market. In the face of high interest rates, firms are navigating lower demand for goods and services. Hiring in the economy has slowed and weaker labour demand is translating into subdued employment growth.
Quick take • 3-min read
Economic Reboot: Provincial Outlook to 2045
Canadian Economics April 8, 2024
The underlying growth potential of Canada’s economy will come from three main sources: the number of people added to the population and more particularly the workforce; the amount and mix of capital used in production processes and the technological improvements adopted along the way; and outside global forces that affect trade flows and spending patterns.
Online experience • 8-min read
Launching Canada’s Space Sector: Economic Impact of Spaceport Nova Scotia
Canadian Economics May 16, 2023
Canada’s first commercial spaceport—Spaceport Nova Scotia, a world-class facility to place satellites into polar and sun-synchronous orbits—is on track to be sited in Nova Scotia. It will be the first commercial launch complex in Canada. The satellites placed from here will lead the world in environmental monitoring, earth observation, imaging, broadband, and telecommunications.
Data briefing • 19-min read
Meet Our Expert
Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist
Pedro Antunes is the Chief Economist and primary spokesperson at The Conference Board of Canada. He provides insights and general direction for the Board’s economic products, including reports and economic indicators that relate to Canada and its regions and sectors.
Clean and Green but Not Very Lean: Our Analysis of the Federal Budget 2023
Canadian Economics March 29, 2023
With the fiscal shadow of the COVID-19 pandemic fading into the background, the federal government is now repositioning itself to address some of the structural issues ahead.
Commentary • 12-min read
Sprinting to Surplus: Our Analysis of the Ontario Budget 2023
Canadian Economics March 24, 2023
Despite the Ontario budget having the highest price tag for any provincial budget ever, the province’s revenue windfall means it will be ahead of schedule getting to surplus.
Commentary • 5-min read
The Economic Impact of the COVID-19 Pandemic on Indigenous Tourism Businesses in Alberta
Indigenous & Northern Communities May 19, 2023
Based on the revised inventory, our findings indicate that at least 202 entrepreneurs and organizations participate in Alberta’s Indigenous tourism sector. These industries account for more than 30 Indigenous businesses and more than 75 per cent of all businesses. The gaming industry accounts for only five businesses, but most of them are significant employers.
Data Briefing • 10-min read
Right Idea, Wrong Timing? Our Analysis of Quebec’s Budget 2023
Canadian Economics March 22, 2023
The Quebec Government issued Budget 2023 on Tuesday, putting forward tax cuts and additional spending at a time when inflation remains a concern.
Commentary • 5-min read
Urban Growth
Canadian Economics January 23, 2023
Toronto, Vancouver, Montréal, and Calgary are the biggest census metropolitan areas (CMAs) in Canada and have been major drivers of growth in the country. With a combined economic output of nearly $870 billion in 2019 (real 2012 dollars), their sheer size suggests that they’ve played an important role in shaping and driving the Canadian economy over time.
Issue briefing • 15-min read
Canadian Industries are Writing a New Chapter: Industry Lens
Canadian Economics January 20, 2023
As businesses across Canada embark on a new era, there are plenty of bright prospects across several industries in the Canadian economy. But which sectors will come out ahead?
Online experience • 8-min read