The Canadian economy contracted by 0.3% in May, the second consecutive month of decline following a 0.5% contraction in April. Services and goods sectors declined by 0.2% and 0.4% respectively as restrictions from the third COVID wave continued to dampen economic activity. Construction activity declined 2.3% in May, with a 4.2% drop in residential building construction led by declines in single-family home construction. The real estate sector fell 7.2% in May, following a 10.7% drop in April, due to slowing home sales. 

While the post-pandemic economic recovery remains strong, many sectors are grappling with conditions that have led to shortages of raw materials and labour. As the economy converges to pre-crisis levels, costs of some inputs remain elevated as supply chains readjust. Although Statistics Canada reported contractions in April and May, based on advanced data the agency estimates that June real GDP rose 0.7%. As a result, the agency's preliminary forecast is for a 0.6% increase in real GDP in the second quarter of 2021. 

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Link:  https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-monthly-economic-growth-real-gdp-may-2021

The Canadian economy contracted for the first time in 12 months in April as monthly real GDP fell 0.3 per cent due to restrictions put in place to contain the third wave of COVID-19. The largest declines were felt in high-touch services sector industries like retail trade and food services.  Output of the real estate sector also dipped in April, though coming off a record month of sales in March.

Many sectors are currently dealing with the complexities of recovering from a pandemic that has produced significant shortages of materials and labour. As a result, there is an adjustment process underway, highlighted by rapidly rising costs, as businesses scramble to recover back to pre-pandemic levels of production and service. That process will continue to create some ups and downs as the economy moves into a post-pandemic environment but the overall trend in the economy is overwhelmingly positive. Statistics Canada estimates that strong growth resumed in May and we anticipate the Canadian economy will expand at a 6 per cent rate this year.  The same is true of the BC economy, where we are tracking economic growth for 2021 at 6.2 per cent.

For more information, please contact: Gino Pezzani.

Link:  https://mailchi.mp/bcrea/canadian-monthly-economic-growth-real-gdp-april-2021