Avocados are high in fiber, healthy fats, vitamin C, vitamin E, vitamin B6, potassium, magnesium, and folate. Many of these nutrients support the immune system and suppress inflammation.

Gut health. The fiber in avocados supports a healthy digestive system by promoting the growth of healthy bacteria in your gut. Some evidence suggests that consuming avocados (along with other fiber-rich foods like fruits, vegetables, nuts, and seeds) may increase bacterial diversity for healthy digestion.

Heart disease risk. Avocados have lots of potassium and magnesium, which are beneficial for controlling blood pressure. They may also help increase levels of HDL (“good”) cholesterol and decrease levels of oxidized LDL cholesterol, which is associated with atherosclerosis—the accumulation of plaque along artery walls.

Antioxidants. Avocados are filled with carotenoids and other nutrients that possess significant antioxidant, neuro-protective, and cardio-protective properties. Carotenoids have been shown to protect against oxidative damage, which is associated with many chronic diseases.

Canadian employment rose by 73,000 (+0.4%) in March hitting a fresh record for employment, according to Statistics Canada. The labour market is increasingly tight, with the Canadian unemployment rate declining to 5.3%, the lowest rate on record since comparable data became available in 1976. The total hours worked rose 1.3% in March while average hourly wages were up 3.4% on a year-over-year basis, up from 3.1% in February. Wage gains are below the inflation rate, however, which clocked in at 5.7% year-over-year in February. 

Public health measures continued to ease prior to the survey reference week in March, driving labour market gains. Employment growth occurred in both the services-producing (+42,000; +0.3%) and the goods-producing (+31,000; +0.8%) sectors in March. The labour force participation rate was essentially unchanged at 65%. 

BC's labour market continues to moderately outperform Canada's, with employment rising by 10,500 (0.4%) in March. Metro Vancouver's employment growth once again outpaced the province, with employment rising 9,300 (0.6%). Seasonally-adjusted employment in BC is not only above pre-pandemic levels, but hit a record high for a 6th consecutive month. The unemployment rate ticked upwards slightly in March, reaching 5.1%. Among the provinces, only Quebec and Saskatchewan have lower unemployment rates. 

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Link: https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-employment-march-2022

Vancouver, B.C. – March 31, 2022 – Sales activity in the Lower Mainland’s commercial real estate market reached the second-highest annual total on record in 2021.

There were 2,659 commercial real estate sales in the Lower Mainland in 2021, a 65.3 per cent increase from the 1,609 sales in 2020, according to data from Commercial Edge, a commercial real estate system operated by the Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV).

Last year’s sales total is the second highest on record behind 2016 when 2,848 sales were recorded. The total dollar value of commercial real estate sales in the Lower Mainland was $14.396 billion in 2021, a 66.7 per cent increase from $8.635 billion in 2020.

"Like residential consumers, businesses and investors became more comfortable operating in the commercial market in the second year of the pandemic," Daniel John, REBGV Chair said. "We saw consistent increases among the different commercial property types both in sales volumes and dollar figures last year."

2021 activity by category

Land: There were 781 commercial land sales in 2021, which is an 86.8 per cent increase from the 418 land sales in 2020. The dollar value of land sales was $7.28 billion in 2021, a 73.6 per cent increase from $4.193 billion in 2020. Office and Retail: There were 1,041 office and retail sales in the Lower Mainland in 2021, which is up 74.1 per cent from the 598 sales in 2020. The dollar value of office and retail sales was $3.136 billion in 2021, a 77 per cent increase from $1.772 billion in 2020.

Industrial: There were 712 industrial land sales in the Lower Mainland in 2021, which is a 36.9 per cent increase from the 520 sales in 2020. The dollar value of industrial sales was $2.394 billion in 2021, a 61.1 per cent increase from $1.486 billion in 2020.

Multi-Family: There were 125 multi-family land sales in the Lower Mainland in 2021, which is up 71.2 per cent from 73 sales in 2020. The dollar value of multi-family sales was $1.586 billion in 2021, a 33.9 per cent increase from $1.184 billion in 2020.

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

"Is that so? Then you’ve lost one quarter of your life. Can you write?”

The boatman said, "No, sir. Too busy making a living.”

“Then you’ve lost another quarter of your life. Can you do arithmetic?”

“No. Never saw much use for it on the river.” "Pity, now you've lost another year of your life."

A silence fell between the two men for several moments until the boatman said, "Sir, may I ask you a question?”

“Certainly, my man.”

“Can you swim?” Asked the boatman. The professor smirked, and chuckled. “No friend. In my learned profession, there was never any need for that.”

“Well, thats too bad because this boat’s leaking and we’re going to sink.”

The Canadian economy rose 0.2% in January, up for the eighth consecutive month. Goods-producing sectors rose 0.8% while services-producing industries remained flat on Omicron-related restrictions. Canadian real GDP is roughly 0.4 per cent above its pre-pandemic, February 2020 level. Preliminary estimates suggest that output in the Canadian economy grew 0.8% in February.

With a high preliminary estimate for February, the Canadian economy appears to be on a strong growth path as it emerges from the Omicron-related slowdown. The Bank of Canada has noted that the slack in the Canadian economy is largely absorbed, which is partly why it hiked rates from 0.25% to 0.5% in early March. Amid strong GDP growth and high inflation, the expectation is that the bank will again raise rates at its upcoming announcement on April 13th by another 0.25% or even 0.5%. BCREA forecasts that the bank will continue raising rates until the overnight policy rate reaches 1.75 per cent, the level which prevailed prior to the COVID-19 crisis.

Link:  https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-economic-growth-real-gdp-january-2022

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

In BC in January, home sales remained flat, while new listings rose and starts fell. Sales rose in all areas of the province except Northern BC and the Lower Mainland. Rental costs in Vancouver and Victoria remain broadly elevated relative to most other points since the onset of the pandemic. 

Retail sales in BC rose to a fresh record in January as Omicron waned and are now 14 per cent above February 2020 levels. As of March, restaurant reservations in Vancouver are at roughly 75 per cent of the pre-pandemic level. In BC, Google’s measure of movement trends is currently about 18 per cent below pre-pandemic levels.

Although aggregate employment in BC has recovered to pre-pandemic levels, the accommodation and food service sector was about 13 per cent below the pre-pandemic level in February. The labour market has served high-income workers much better than low-income workers. Employment in high-income industries is about 10 per cent above pre-pandemic employment levels, while employment in low-income industries is about 6.5 per cent below pre-pandemic employment levels.

Manufacturing and exports edged up in January, while imports declined slightly. 

Consumer confidence declined slightly in February, while business confidence drifted sideways. 

The number of US and non-US tourists has been rising each month since restrictions were eased last summer, with US tourists reaching 58 per cent of pre-pandemic levels in December.    

For a more comprehensive overview of BC's economic recovery, click here.

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.