Retail sales posted another decline in February and the preliminary estimate for March points to unchanged spending.
Economic News
To help make credit unions innovation ready, Alberta Central’s Chief Economist Charles St-Arnaud shares his analysis of the latest economic news. These commentaries and insights papers will help you understand what economic trends mean and how they could impact your credit union.
Data & Analytics
Explore the analytics and data that are important to your bottom line, with a focus on Alberta communities large and small. You can find the Socio-Economic Portal here, with further data and analytics papers to come.
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Alberta Central’s research and reports provide you with access to the information you need, when you need it, with a laser focus on Alberta credit unions and specific topics you and your members care about.
Economic updates
Subscribe now to receive economic analysis, insights and thought leadership from Alberta Central’s Chief Economist Charles St-Arnaud.
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Economic News
Federal Budget: no big change in deficit thanks to higher taxes
Budget 2024 shows a deficit of $40bn for FY2024-25, unchanged from the Fall Economic Statement (FES), and only marginally higher than expected over the projection period.
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Economic News
Housing activity improves in March, but house prices decline
Housing activity improved in March, but national house prices declined, a sixth decline in seven months. Activity in the housing markets has been very sensitive to changes in interest rates in recent months because of its impact on affordability.
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Economic News
Bank of Canada: almost ready for cuts
The Bank of Canada kept its policy rate to 5.00% and will continue quantitative tightening (QT), in line with our expectations.
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Economic News
A weak employment report unlikely to sway the Bank of Canada
Today’s Labour Force Survey data points to a weaker labour market in March after a solid start to 2024. With employment declining and population growth strong, the unemployment rate rose to 6.1%, its highest since November 2021, pointing to another increase in the amount of slack in the economy.
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Economic News
Canada’s housing obsession is cannibalizing productivity
Canada’s poor productivity performance has now been characterized as a national emergency. However, this mediocre performance is nothing new with chronic underinvestment the likely reason. How can we solve productivity and support investment? Read more!