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Canadian inflation, as measured by the Consumer Price Index (CPI), registered just 1.3 per cent in the 12 months to May. That is down from 1.6 per cent in April.   The Bank of Canada's new core measure of inflation, called CPI-common,  was also up 1.3 per cent for the fourth consecutive month.   In BC, provincial consumer price inflation was 1.9 per cent in the 12 months to May.

Given the Bank of Canada's recent hawkish turn on monetary policy, the trend in inflation will be even more important in coming months. So far, there is little in the inflation numbers to justify an interest rate increase, though the very strong economic growth over the past year could put some upward pressure on prices soon. 




 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission. 



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Canadian retail sales rose 0.8 per cent on a monthly basis in April and were 7 per cent higher year-over-year. Sales were higher in 9 of 11 retail sub-sectors. With today's strong retail sales data, we are tracking second quarter Canadian real GDP growth at 2.4 per cent. 

In BC, the economy continues to thrive with retail sales rising 0.3 per cent on a monthly basis and and 7.1 per cent year-over-year. Given today's retail sales data along with strength in employment, manufacturing, housing and trade data, growth in BC real GDP is tracking 3.8 per cent through the first 5 months of the year.  



 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission. 

 

 

 

 


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BCREA 2017 Second Quarter Housing Forecast


Vancouver, BC – June 19, 2017.

The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) released its 2017 Second Quarter Housing Forecast today. Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) residential sales in the province are forecast to decline 10 per cent to 101,000 units this year, after reaching a record 112,209 units in 2016. Housing demand gained strength this spring, as some of the effects of federal and provincial policy efforts to tamp it down dissipate. In addition, strong market fundamentals continue to underpin an elevated level of home sales. The ten-year average for MLS residential sales in the province is 84,700 units.

 

“The province is in its fourth year of above-trend economic growth," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "Strong employment growth, consumer confidence and an influx of inter-provincial migrants are important drivers of the housing market this year." In addition, with the millennial generation now entering their household forming years, the condominium market in major urban centres is experiencing pressure on supply.

 

The average MLS® residential price in the province is forecast to decline 1.1 per cent to $683,500 this year, and increase 5.2 per cent to $719,100 in 2018. The decline in the provincial average price is largely due to rising demand for more affordable condominiums and a larger proportion of home sales occurring outside the Metro Vancouver region. The supply of homes for sale is at a 20-year low in the province, with sellers' market conditions prevelant across most BC regions and home types.



 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission. 


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Canadian manufacturing sales increased 1.1 per cent in April, with the largest contribution coming from higher sales in the petroleum, coal and metals sectors. Overall, sales were higher in 13 of 21 manufacturing sub-sectors, reflecting broad-based strength in the Canadian economy. 
 
In BC,  manufacturing sales increased 1.2 per cent on a monthly basis and were up 8.8 per cent year-over-year.  The manufacturing and export sector continues to be a significant driver of economic growth for the province this year. Through the first five months of the year, we are tracking growth in the BC economy at 3.8 per cent. 



 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission. 



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Vancouver, BC – June 13, 2017.


The British Columbia Real Estate Association (BCREA) reports that a total of 12,402 residential unit sales were recorded by the Multiple Listing Service® (MLS®) in May, down 7.9 per cent from the same period last year. Total sales dollar volume was $9.33 billion, down 4.0 per cent from May 2017. The average MLS® residential price in the province was $752,536, a 4.2 per cent increase from the same period last year.


“Market conditions have tightened considerably this spring as an upturn in consumer demand has not been accompanied by a rise in homes listed for sale," said Cameron Muir, BCREA Chief Economist. "The supply of homes for sale in the province has fallen 50 per cent over the past five years."


"The entire southern portion of the province is experiencing a shortage of housing supply, which makes continuing upward pressure on home prices inevitable, at least in the near term," added Muir. Total active listings in the province were down 11.1 per cent to 28,404 units from May 2016. The ratio of home sales to active listings was well over 20 per cent in nine of the province's 11 real estate boards, and over 50 per cent in Vancouver, the Fraser Valley, Chilliwack and Victoria.


Year-to-date, BC residential sales dollar volume was down 25.2 per cent to $30.6 billion, when compared with the same period in 2016. Residential unit sales declined 20.1 per cent to 43,158 units, while the average MLS® residential price was down 5.7 per cent to $709,541.



 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission. 





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Canada added 54,000 jobs in May following flat employment gains in April.  However,  the national unemployment rate edged up 0.1 points to 6.6 per cent as the number of people joining the workforce in search of a job outpaced hiring. 

The BC economy continues to add jobs at a torrid pace. The province added 12,300 new jobs in May, a more than 4 per cent increase over the past 12 months. The provincial unemployment rate inched up 0.1 points to 5.6 per cent as the strong BC economy draws job searchers into the provincial workforce.  



 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission. 


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The total value of Canadian building permits declined 0.2 per cent to 7.1billion in April, the third consecutive monthly decline. Lower construction intentions for single-family homes, primarily in the Toronto CMA, was a main contributor to April's decline.

Permit activity bounced back in BC following a large decline in March, led by strong construction intentions for multi-family dwellings.  The total value of permits increased 22.9 per cent on a monthly basis and were essentially flat year-over-year. Residential permits rose 19 per cent on both a monthly basis but were 7.4 per cent lower year-over year while non-residential permits were up 34 per cent on a monthly basis and 24 per cent year-over-year.

Construction intentions were higher in three of BC's four census metropolitan areas (CMA). Permits in the Abbotsford-Mission CMA  more than tripled on a monthly basis while the Victoria CMA saw permit values increase 25per cent on a monthly basis and 28 per cent year-over-year. In the Kelowna CMA, permits were 8.9 per cent lower on a monthly basis but were 50 per cent higher than permit values in April 2016. In the Vancouver CMA, permit activity bounce back from a decline in April, posting a 25 per cent monthly increase but were 18 per cent lower compared to April 2016.  



 

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Home buyer activity returned to near record levels across the Metro Vancouver housing market in May.

 

Residential property sales in the region totalled 4,364 in May 2017, a decrease of 8.5 per cent from the 4,769 sales in May 2016, an all-time record, and an increase of 22.8 per cent compared to April 2017 when 3,553 homes sold.

Last month’s sales were 23.7 per cent above the 10-year May sales average and is the third-highest selling May on record.

 

"Demand for condominiums and townhomes is driving today’s activity," Jill Oudil, Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver (REBGV) president said. “First-time buyers and people looking to downsize from their single-family homes are both competing for these two types of housing.”

 

New listings for detached, attached and apartment properties in Metro Vancouver totalled 6,044 in May 2017. This represents a 3.9 per cent decrease compared to the 6,289 units listed in May 2016 and a 23.2 per cent increase compared to April 2017 when 4,907 homes were listed. The month-over-month increase in new listings was led by detached homes at 27.1 per cent, followed by apartments at 22.7 per cent and townhomes at 14.1 per cent.

 

The total number of properties currently listed for sale on the MLS® system in Metro Vancouver is 8,168, a 5.7 per cent increase compared to May 2016 (7,726) and a 4.5 per cent increase compared to April 2017 (7,813). "Home buyers are beginning to have more selection to choose from in the detached market, but the number of condominiums for sale continues to decline," Oudil said.

 

The sales-to-active listings ratio across all residential categories is 53.4 per cent. By property type, the ratio is 31 per cent for detached homes, 76.1 per cent for townhomes, and 94.6 per cent for condominiums. Generally, analysts say that downward pressure on home prices occurs when the ratio dips below the 12 per cent mark for a sustained period, while home prices often experience upward pressure when it surpasses 20 per cent over several months.


“While sales are inching closer to the record-breaking pace of 2016, the market itself looks different. Sales last year were driven by demand for single-family homes. This year, it's clear that townhomes and condominiums are leading the way,” said Oudil. “It’s important to work with your local REALTOR® to understand the different factors affecting the market today.”

 

The MLS® Home Price Index composite benchmark price for all residential properties in Metro Vancouver is currently $967,500. This represents an 8.8 per cent increase over May 2016 and a 2.8 per cent increase compared to April 2017.

 

Sales of detached properties in May 2017 reached 1,548, a decrease of 17 per cent from the 1,865 detached sales recorded in May 2016. The benchmark price for a detached property is $1,561,000. This represents a 3.1 per cent increase over May 2016 and a 2.9 per cent increase compared to April 2017.

 

Sales of apartment properties reached 2,025 in May 2017, a decrease of 5.8 per cent compared to the 2,150 sales in May 2016.The benchmark price for an apartment property is $571,300. This represents a 17.8 per cent increase over May 2016 and a 3.1 per cent increase compared to April 2017.

 

Attached property sales in May 2017 totalled 791, an increase of 4.9 per cent compared to the 754 sales in May 2016. The benchmark price for an attached property is $715,400. This represents a 13.1 per cent increase over May 2016 and a 1.9 per cent increase compared to April 2017.


 

 

 

* Areas covered by Real Estate Board of Greater Vancouver include: Whistler, Sunshine Coast, Squamish, West Vancouver, North Vancouver, Vancouver, Burnaby, New Westminster, Richmond, Port Moody, Port Coquitlam, Coquitlam, Pitt Meadows, Maple Ridge, and South Delta.

 

 

 

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The Canadian economy expanded 3.7 per cent in the first quarter of 2017, led by an acceleration in household consumption spending as well as a nearly 3 per cent rise in business investment. The latter is a particularly welcome sign for the economy given that business investment had declined in eight of the previous nine quarters.  A build up of inventories, especially in the manufacturing sector was also a significant contributor to growth in the first quarter, but also signals a slowing in the second quarter as firms produce fewer goods and wind down that inventory.

Although the Canadian economy has grown much faster than the Bank's estimate of potential growth for three consecutive quarters, it is not expected that the economy will sustain that level of growth for much longer. We forecast that real GDP growth will fall back to an average of 1.5 per cent quarterly growth for the remainder of 2017. However, the strong start to the year means that annual growth for this year is likely to register close to 2.5 per cent, the strongest economic growth in three years. Despite faster growth, a significant amount of slack remains in the economy and there is therefore very little pressure on inflation. Without a signal that inflation is going to push higher, the Bank will remain sidelined at least until early 2018 when it expects remaining slack in the economy will be eliminated.  



 

Copyright British Columbia Real Estate Association. Reprinted with permission. 


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