indicatorThe Owl

Business conditions much better than a year ago

Business conditions were better in March 2022 than in March 2021

By Rob Roach, ATB Economics 4 April 2022 1 min read

Friday’s Owl reported that small businesses in Alberta are feeling more confident about their performance over the next 12 months. The latest information on business conditions in Alberta’s two largest cities reinforces this trend.

As of the week beginning March 21, 2022, the Real-Time Local Business Conditions Index* in Calgary was sitting at 214, up from a reading of 160 during the same week in 2021.

In Edmonton, the index went from 174 a year ago to 249 last week.

A rising index reflects improving business conditions in an urban centre, while a declining index signals deteriorating business conditions.

In Calgary, the index got as low as 87 the week of September 21, 2020. Edmonton’s index reached its lowest point the week of August 31, 2020 when it was just 94.

Business conditions were better in March 2022 than in March 2021 in all 15 cities included in the index.

*The Real-Time Local Business Conditions Index is experimental and measures the business conditions in 15 Canadian cities using the week of August 10, 2020 as the starting point.

Answer to the previous trivia question: Malaysia is home to the largest hotel (by room count) in the world. The First World Hotel & Plaza has 7,351 rooms.

Today’s trivia question: How many businesses with employees are there in Canada?

The Real-Time Local Business Conditions Index is experimental and measures the business conditions in 15 Canadian cities using the week of August 10, 2020 as the starting point.

The Real-Time Local Business Conditions Index is experimental and measures the business conditions in 15 Canadian cities using the week of August 10, 2020 as the starting point.


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