Alberta clears recession, challenges remain: ATB's Alberta Economic Outlook
CALGARY, Aug. 31, 2017 /CNW/ - Alberta has said goodbye to the recession, but it will likely be a few more years before a stronger and more resilient economy fully emerges. Still, there is some improvement with oil and gas, agriculture, food processing, tourism, retail and manufacturing all experiencing modest growth.
Today, ATB Financial is releasing its latest Alberta Economic Outlook, providing insight into what may happen in the months ahead.
Capturing five primary economic indicators, the key results are:
- Alberta emerges from two years of recession with real GDP growth of around three per cent.
- Retail and housing sector performance are higher.
- Oil prices have dipped, and are expected to average below $US 50 in 2017.
- Trade talks with US pose a risk to the economy.
- Tourism, agriculture and agri-food will continue to lead growth but the oil sector remains the key driver in the province.
- Net out-migration to other provinces still likely to taper off later this year.
"The energy sector continues to be challenged by oil prices hovering below $US 50 per barrel," says Todd Hirsch, ATB Financial's Chief Economist. "At those levels, Alberta's energy sector struggles. Drilling activity and hiring has picked up modestly, but growth in the sector remains tenuous and not likely to snap back to pre-recession levels anytime soon."
The labour market is adding jobs—some 35,000 over the last 12 months (+1.5 per cent), though positions have tended to be lower paying and and hiring in the private sector has been lagging.
"Alberta's economy is recovering, but it is not returning to what it looked like in 2014," says Hirsch. "Instead, the economy is evolving into one that is more diversified, and more typical of other Canadian provinces. It is a slow process and it may be a few more years before we see a full economic recovery."
ATB Financial's Economics and Research team is forecasting real GDP growth of 3.2 per cent this year, followed by a more modest expansion of 2.1 per cent in 2018.
Read the complete ATB Alberta Economic Outlook (August 2017).
Watch (and re-purpose for broadcast) ATB Chief Economist Todd Hirsch summarize the latest Alberta Economic Outlook.
About ATB Financial
With assets of $48.6 billion, ATB Financial is Alberta's largest home-grown financial institution. Established in 1938, ATB is a network of 173 branches, 143 agencies, a Customer Care Centre, two Entrepreneur Centres, along with mobile and online banking. ATB's more than 5,000 team members help more than 730,000 customers in 247 Alberta communities.
SOURCE ATB Financial
For more information and interviews with ATB's Chief Economist Todd Hirsch, please contact: Karin Põldaas, Communications Dir., Economics and Research, ATB Financial, 403-660-5296, [email protected]
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