The year 2019 seems like a distant memory in the COVID-19 era, but provincial economic accounts data confirmed that, heading into 2020, B.C.’s economy remained among the strongest in the country.
On an expenditure basis, real gross domestic product (GDP) expanded by 2.7% compared with 1.9% nationally and was on par with 2018’s performance.
B.C.’s solid gain last year was achieved despite weakness in most key segments. Household consumption growth decelerated sharply to 1.7% in 2019, down from 2.8% in 2018. This was the slowest expansion since a 0.3% gain in 2009.
Slower consumption growth was driven by fewer vehicle sales, weaker ancillary spending related to housing, and flat non-durable goods purchases.
Household consumption makes up about 60% of GDP. Overall consumption expenditures growth of 2.1% was propped up by stronger government spending, which rose 3.1%.
Housing was a drag on the economy. Investment in residential structures shrank by 1.5% during the year, following a 2.5% contraction in 2018.
Trade was also dismal. Real export growth slowed to 0.9% from 3.5% in 2018. This was partly offset by slowing imports, which decelerated to a gain of 2.7%, from 3.3% in 2018.
Weaker growth across key segments was offset by a huge increase in investment spending. Private-sector investment jumped 22% from 2018 on a 35% increase in structure investment. Machinery and equipment was flat. Private investment contributed about 74% of headline growth. This surge reflected build-out of liquefied natural gas projects. Government investment, which gained 8.8%, also outperformed, reflecting investment in schools, hospitals and other infrastructure.
Nominal GDP came in at 4.3%, compared with 4.9% growth in 2018. Economic growth largely accrued to employees during the year. Aggregate wages and salaries were up 5.7%, as net operating surplus or profits fell 7%.
With mixed gains in 2019, headline growth marked a modest handoff to 2020 – but a short-lived one, as COVID-19 ravaged the economy this year. Economic output is forecast to contract by nearly 6% in 2020 due to the pandemic-driven shuttering of parts of the economy earlier in the year and the continuing effects of health measures. Rising COVID-19 cases in the fall and winter will pause the recovery phase observed since May, but growth is forecast to reach about 4% in 2021. •
Bryan Yu is deputy chief economist at Central 1 Credit Union.
TORONTO – Strength in the base metal and technology sectors helped Canada’s main stock index gain almost 100 points on Friday, while U.S. stock markets also climbed higher.
The S&P/TSX composite index closed up 93.51 points at 23,568.65.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was up 297.01 points at 41,393.78. The S&P 500 index was up 30.26 points at 5,626.02, while the Nasdaq composite was up 114.30 points at 17,683.98.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.61 cents US compared with 73.58 cents US on Thursday.
The October crude oil contract was down 32 cents at US$68.65 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was down five cents at US$2.31 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$30.10 at US$2,610.70 an ounce and the December copper contract was up four cents US$4.24 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
OTTAWA – Statistics Canada says wholesale sales, excluding petroleum, petroleum products, and other hydrocarbons and excluding oilseed and grain, rose 0.4 per cent to $82.7 billion in July.
The increase came as sales in the miscellaneous subsector gained three per cent to reach $10.5 billion in July, helped by strength in the agriculture supplies industry group, which rose 9.2 per cent.
The food, beverage and tobacco subsector added 1.7 per cent to total $15 billion in July.
The personal and household goods subsector fell 2.5 per cent to $12.1 billion.
In volume terms, overall wholesale sales rose 0.5 per cent in July.
Statistics Canada started including oilseed and grain as well as the petroleum and petroleum products subsector as part of wholesale trade last year, but is excluding the data from monthly analysis until there is enough historical data.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 13, 2024.
TORONTO – Canada’s main stock index was up more than 150 points in late-morning trading, helped by strength in the base metal and energy sectors, while U.S. stock markets were mixed.
The S&P/TSX composite index was up 172.18 points at 23,383.35.
In New York, the Dow Jones industrial average was down 34.99 points at 40,826.72. The S&P 500 index was up 10.56 points at 5,564.69, while the Nasdaq composite was up 74.84 points at 17,470.37.
The Canadian dollar traded for 73.55 cents US compared with 73.59 cents US on Wednesday.
The October crude oil contract was up $2.00 at US$69.31 per barrel and the October natural gas contract was up five cents at US$2.32 per mmBTU.
The December gold contract was up US$40.00 at US$2,582.40 an ounce and the December copper contract was up six cents at US$4.20 a pound.
This report by The Canadian Press was first published Sept. 12, 2024.
