BRITISH COLUMBIA – Canadian real GDP was nearly unchanged for the third consecutive month in October. Manufacturing contracted 0.6 per cent in October, led by declines in durable goods. Construction activity fell by 0.1 per cent, but residential construction continued to grow strongly, rising by 1.2 per cent from the prior month.
Offices of real estate agents and brokers fell for the fourth consecutive month, dropping 6.8 per cent as home resales continues to soften amid elevated borrowing costs. Preliminary estimates suggest that output in the Canadian economy rose 0.1 per cent in November.
In October, Canadian inflation-adjusted GDP extended its streak of almost exactly zero growth or contraction in economic activity. Canadian real GDP is little changed from where it was in March, despite a large increase in the national population due to immigration.
The economy continues to avoid a technical recession, but with per capita real GDP declining, Canadian GDP growth remains very soft. In addition, labour markets are gradually softening across Canada, and the inflation rate has shown signs of cooling, with 3-month moving averages of core inflation well below 3 per cent.
Given this data, markets now broadly anticipate that the Bank of Canada will not raise its benchmark rate further. The question is, instead, how quickly the Bank will cut rates in 2024, with the balance of probabilities on cuts beginning in the spring and accumulating by the summer and towards the end of the year. The next rate announcement is on next Wednesday, January 24th.
Source: bcrea.bc.ca
