Canadian retail sales decreased by 0.4 per cent to $69.3 billion in February compared to the previous month. Compared to the same time last year, retail sales are up by 4.7 per cent. Furthermore, core retail sales, which exclude gasoline and automobile items, rose by 0.5 per cent month-over-month. In volume terms, adjusted for rising prices, retail sales decreased by 0.4 per cent in February.

Retail sales in British Columbia were down 0.6 per cent in February from the previous month and rose by 4.4 per cent compared to the same time last year. In the CMA of Vancouver, retail sales were down 0.9 per cent from the prior month and 6.0 per cent above the level of February 2024.

February's report marks a second consecutive month of slower sales after several months of retail growth during the fall and winter. As tariffs and their associated uncertainty continue transmitting into the economy, central bankers and economists alike will closely monitor whether this downward trend continues into the summer. 

About BCREA’s Housing Monitor Dashboard

The BCREA Economics team has created the Housing Monitor Dashboard to help REALTORS^® monitor BC’s housing market. This dashboard, which is updated monthly, provides up-to-date data on key variables for public education and use. Focuses include: 

• Resale Home Market

• Construction

• Rental Market

• Borrowing Costs

• Other BCREA Data

In the dashboard, the image and data are available for download under each chart, where possible.

Ingredients

½ cup canned chickpeas, drained and mashed

½ avocado, mashed

1 tbsp hummus

½ tsp lemon juice

¼ tsp garlic powder

¼ tsp smoked paprika

Salt and pepper to taste

1 small whole wheat or low-carb tortilla

Handful of spinach or arugula

Instructions:

In a bowl, mash chickpeas and avocado until combined but slightly chunky. Stir in hummus, lemon juice, garlic powder, paprika, salt, and pepper. Spread mixture onto the tortilla, then top with spinach. Roll up tightly, slice in half and enjoy!

Why You'll Love This:

•A plant-based protein (about 15 grams) to keep you full.

•Contains healthy fats plus fiber for energy and digestion.

•Quick, creamy and flavorful—ready in about five minutes!

Imagine this: You’re sitting on your couch, staring out the window, and doing… nothing. No phone in your hand. No emails being answered. No laundry being folded “while you relax.” Just you, the moment and maybe the sound of a bird that seems to have its entire life figured out. Now, be honest: Did your brain just revolt? Did it whisper, “But I should be doing something productive?”

We’ve been trained to believe that stillness is wasted time; every minute must be optimized, every hobby should be turned into a side hustle and every pocket of the day must be filled with something useful. But what if absolutely nothing is the most useful thing you do?

The Italians have a phrase for it: Dolce far niente—the sweetness of doing nothing. It’s not laziness; it’s an art or even a skill. It’s the ability to sit, breathe and exist without needing to check, achieve or accomplish anything.

When was the last time you let your mind wander without guiding it toward a task? When was the last time you allowed yourself to be bored, truly bored, without reaching for a screen to fill the silence?

Science has proven that our best ideas seem to come to us when we aren’t trying. Creativity thrives in stillness. Stress melts away when we stop chasing the next thing.

Nature intensifies during summer. Every plant, animal and ecosystem is in high gear and makes the most of the warmth before the cycle shifts again.

How Do Plants Survive The Heat

Although the summer sun fuels growth, too much heat can be dangerous. Plants use transpiration — a process in which they release water through their leaves — to cool themselves.

Some plants, such as sunflowers, track the sun throughout the day to maximize their energy intake. Meanwhile, desert plants, such as cacti, adapt by storing water and reducing their leaf surface area to minimize moisture loss.

Why Insects Rule The Summer

Have you ever noticed how mosquitoes, fireflies and cicadas seem to take over during summer? Warmer temperatures accelerate insect metabolism, making them more active and abundant. Fireflies use the season to flash mating signals, and cicadas emerge after years of being underground and
then fill the air with their unmistakable summer chorus.

The Science Of Summer Storms

Summer heat fuels powerful thunderstorms as warm air rises rapidly, cools and then condenses into storm clouds. The clash of humid, rising air and cooler atmospheric layers creates dramatic lightning displays and sudden downpours.

Why Summer Makes Us Happier

More sunlight boosts our serotonin, the brain’s "happiness chemical," and increased Vitamin D supports our mood and energy. Studies also show that people feel more adventurous and social during summer,
which likely is due to longer daylight hours and increased outdoor activity.

Every sunset, every gust of warm wind and every distant rumble of thunder is part of an ancient rhythm that reminds us to embrace the fleeting magic of the season before it fades again.

A market made for buyers is missing buyers. Prices have eased from recent highs, mortgage rates are among the lowest we’ve seen in years, and there are more active listings on the MLS® than we’ve seen in almost a decade. Sellers also appear ready to engage — but buyers aren’t showing up. With the current global economic uncertainty, only time will tell if they show up as they typically do in the coming months.

Read March MLS® Market Report to learn more: https://www.gvrealtors.ca/market-watc...

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Canadian housing starts fell by 3 per cent to 214,155 units in March at a seasonally adjusted annual rate (SAAR). Starts were down 12 per cent from the same month last year. Single-detached housing starts were unchanged from last month at 49,667 units, while multi-family and other starts dropped by 4 per cent to 164,484 units (SAAR).

In British Columbia, starts rose by 5 per cent from last month to 31,145 units (SAAR) in all areas of the province. In areas of the province with 10,000 or more residents, single-detached starts rose by 3 per cent to 3,866 units, while multi-family starts increased by 6 per cent to 25,302 units month-over-month. Starts in the province were 12 per cent below the levels from March 2024. Year-to-date starts are up by 122 per cent in Abbotsford, while being down by 48 per cent in Nanaimo, 37 per cent in Vancouver, 36 per cent in Kelowna, and 33 per cent in Victoria.

https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-housing-starts-march-2025

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Canadian prices, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), rose 2.3 per cent on a year-over-year basis in March, down from a 2.6 per cent increase in February. Month-over-month, on a seasonally adjusted basis, the CPI was unchanged in March. The overall slowdown in headline CPI is largely driven by lower gasoline prices, with the CPI ex-gasoline rising by 2.5 per cent in March. Shelter price growth continues to cool, as mortgage interest costs were up 7.9 per cent, marking the nineteenth consecutive month of deceleration. Similarly, rent was up 5.1 per cent year-over-year in March, down from 5.8 per cent in February. In BC, consumer prices rose 2.6 per cent year-over-year, down from 3.0 per cent in February. The Bank of Canada's preferred measures of median and trimmed inflation, which strip out volatile components, are at 2.9 per cent and 2.8 per cent year-over-year, respectively.

After a sharp uptick in February, March's CPI report saw headline inflation moderate towards the neutral range of 2.0 per cent. However, the Bank's core measures of inflation continue to linger near the ceiling of their target range, suggesting some underlying upward pressure in prices. Nonetheless, markets remain uncertain about the Bank's decision on Wednesday as Canada braces for the inflationary impacts of tariffs. This report slightly favours the odds of a 25-point rate cut on Wednesday to pre-emptively brace the economy for the damage caused by tariffs.

https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-inflation-march-2025

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

The Bank of Canada held its overnight policy rate at 2.75 per cent this morning.  In the statement accompanying the decision, the Bank noted that pervasive uncertainty makes it unusually challenging to project GDP growth and inflation in Canada. The Bank sees two potential scenarios for the Canadian economy, either high but limited tariffs that temporarily weaken growth or a protracted trade war that causes both a full recession and inflation to rise above 3 per cent. The Bank is already seeing signs of a slower economy due to the impact of uncertainty on consumer and business confidence, but expects tariff driven supply chain disruptions will put upward pressure on prices later this year. Perhaps most importantly, the  Bank ended its statement with the following: "Monetary policy cannot resolve trade uncertainty or offset the impacts of a trade war. What it can and must do is maintain price stability for Canadians."

Improvement in the rate environment over the past year was starting to provide a jolt to home sales prior to Trump’s tariff announcements, and the swirling uncertainty around each successive tariff announcement has further clouded the economic outlook. The Bank of Canada’s most recent messaging has been focused on concern with the inflationary effects of tariffs, and those concerns may somewhat constrain the Bank’s ability to lower rates further even in the face of a weakening economy. Moreover, financial market volatility has pushed US government bond yields higher, which is also putting some upward pressure on Canadian interest rates. The 5-year bond yield, while volatile, has been on an uptrend that, if sustained, will lead to slightly higher 5-year fixed mortgage rates.

Read more about the outlook for mortgage rates here: Mortgage Rate Forecast - British Columbia Real Estate Association

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Magnesium doesn’t get the hype of calcium or vitamin D, but it’s one of the most essential minerals for overall health—and nearly 50% of Americans don’t get enough of it. This powerhouse nutrient supports everything from brain function to heart health, yet it’s often missing from modern diets.

Why Magnesium Matters

Better Sleep: Magnesium helps regulate melatonin, the hormone that controls sleep cycles. Studies show it improves sleep quality and reduces insomnia symptoms.

Stress And Anxiety Relief: Magnesium plays a key role in nervous system function, helps calm the body and reduces cortisol, the stress hormone.

Muscle Heart Health: Magnesium supports muscle relaxation, prevents cramps and helps maintain a steady heartbeat.

Stronger Bones: While calcium gets most of the credit, magnesium is essential for maintaining bone density and reducing the risk of osteoporosis.

How to Get More Magnesium

Many processed foods are stripped of magnesium, but you can boost your intake naturally by eating:
• Avocados
• Dark leafy greens, such as spinach and kale
• Dark chocolate (yes, really!)
• Nuts and seeds, such as almonds and pumpkin seeds
• Fatty fish, such as salmon and mackerel

For those who struggle to get enough magnesium through diet, supplements , such as magnesium glycinate or citrate, can help, but always check with a doctor first.

Small changes can make a big difference—getting enough magnesium might be the simplest way to sleep better, stress less and feel more energized.