ATB's Economic Outlook
Read our most recent growth forecast.
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Our economics team examines the latest statistics on employment, trade, consumer spending, the energy industry and other economic drivers to provide insight into what is happening in Alberta and where our economy is heading.
Economics News
Concern has been raised about a growing segment of western society referred to as the “precariat”
Average prices increased across all housing types in March 2021 compared to March 2020 with the average for detached homes up the most at 21 per cent
The hospitality sector still has the biggest pandemic-related employment hole to fill
The provincial unemployment rate went from 9.9 per cent in February to 9.1 per cent in March
The latest international merchandise trade numbers show Alberta’s foreign exports rose by 8 per cent ($665.6 million) in February compared to the month before
Of critical importance to Alberta’s oil patch is that U.S. and Canadian oil consumption are forecast to grow this year and next
R&D spending in Canada is well below many of our international peers
A doubling of government sector building permits and a strong rise in commercial permit value pushed up the non-residential total by 52.7 per cent in February
Payroll jobs in all but two major industry categories grew between 2001 and 2019
Seasonally adjusted payroll employment in Alberta fell by 32,236 jobs (-1.8 per cent) in January 2021 compared to December 2020
Canada’s non-profit sector as a whole managed to grow in 2020 but picture is different when we drill down to the sector's component parts
When asked about the current state of their business, only 21 per cent of owners in Alberta said “good” in March whereas 37 per cent said “bad.”
January 2021 saw the 11th consecutive year-over-year drop in sales with the largest decline recorded in April 2020 when sales plummeted by 57 per cent
Revenue for spectator sports, event promoters, artists and related industries will have decreased by around 50 per cent in 2020 says Statistics Canada
The decrease since 2014 is larger for unattached individuals at 5.8 per cent compared to 1.8 per cent for families
The rising share of Albertans with post-secondary education is encouraging, but we can’t rest on our laurels
Despite ongoing public health restrictions, retail sales in Alberta increased in January
Alberta lost the most residents last year to British Columbia; 17,688 British Columbians moved to Alberta in 2020 while 25,833 Albertans relocated to BC, for a net loss 8,215
Read our most recent growth forecast.