The Owl: Focused on Alberta’s Economy
Retail sales, the unemployment rate, population growth, inflation, international trade—these are just a few of the economic trends the team makes sense of in The Owl.
Economics News
Subscribe to get a brief daily snapshot of what’s happening in Alberta’s economy
Up for sale
Calgary and Edmonton house prices continue their hot streak
Foot steady on the gas
Residential construction intentions have picked up in Alberta while they remain sluggish elsewhere in the country
Cattle and crop prices going in different directions
Crops prices have come down from recent peaks while cattle prices continue to rise
Different strokes
Sources of job growth in Alberta and Canada
Weekly Wrap, Friday, May 10, 2024
Jobs spring forward ahead of Mother’s Day
Oil and gas companies cautiously optimistic
ATB’s spring energy sector survey
Thirsty for oil
Global oil consumption continues to rise
Decrypting the rise of Bitcoin ETFs
ETFs offer a familiar investment structure for cryptocurrency
Exports in March 2024
Trade levels down from last year in Alberta
Weekly Wrap, Friday, May 3, 2024
Now flowing
Barreling ahead
Record oil production ahead of TMX
Room to grow
Alberta’s exports to the U.K.
Lagging behind
Canadian economy slower in February and March
Business confidence in April
Up in Alberta, down nationally
Weekly Wrap, Friday, April 26, 2024
Hope springs eternal
Today’s special
Restaurant and bar sales on the rise
Signs of fatigue
Retail sales juggernaut slowing down
Living together
Multi-family housing starts in Alberta
Global resiliency
World output to now grow at 3.2% in 2024
Weekly Wrap, Friday, April 19, 2024
Cooling core inflation and the need for investment
It's halvening
Halving plays a critical role in the future of cryptocurrency
In the right direction
February revenues picked up by 4.1% and reversed all of the decline in January
Another swallow?
The headline inflation rate ticked up to 2.9% in March
Turning up the heat
Home construction intentions picked up in February
Weekly Wrap, Friday, April 12, 2024
Alberta housing market not waiting for rate cuts
The productivity imperative
Energy-related industries have among the highest levels of productivity and wages in Canada
Lighter finger on pause
The Bank of Canada remained on the sidelines in April
Resurgence
The Indigenous economy in Alberta rebounded sharply in 2021
Brewing troubles
Global coffee and cocoa prices could rise significantly over the coming months
Weekly Wrap, Friday, April 5, 2024
March (employment) break, and the surge in interprovincial migration
Not enough gas
International exports slip in February
Production leaps again
Alberta’s oil output in February
Oil change
WTI stronger in March
A little less confident
Small business expectations over the next 12 months
Population update
Alberta continues to lead all provinces in population growth
Taking a bite?
Restaurant and bar sales in January
Cutting back
A slow start to the year for retailers
Different markets, different directions
Resale home prices
Weekly Wrap, Friday, March 22, 2024
Alberta's economic outlook and the week that was
Help wanted
Job vacancy rates vary across regions and industries in Alberta
Weathering the storm
Alberta’s economy in 2024
Cooling off
The headline inflation rate fell to 2.8% in February
Hot streak
Alberta housing starts strong again in February
Weekly Wrap, Friday, March 15, 2024
Up north and around the globe
Debt servicing costs on the rise in Canada
The debt service ratio in Canada is near a record high
Not cooperating
U.S. inflation still too high
(Mostly) on track
Employment growth by industry in Alberta
New year uptick
Merchandise exports in Alberta were up by 4.2% in January
Weekly Wrap, Friday, March 8, 2024
Alberta employment picks up steam
From glass ceiling to broken rung
Advancing gender equality in the workplace
Not yet
The Bank of Canada kept its policy rate unchanged at 5%
Another month another record
Alberta’s oil output in January
Looking up
Another sign of rising business confidence
Weekly Wrap, Friday, March 1, 2024
Below potential - business investment lagging in Canada
The seatbelt sign is off
No landing scenario playing out in the U.S.
Finding workers in Alberta
Job vacancy rate unchanged in December
A brighter future
Business optimism rises in Alberta
Different readings
New home prices down in some cities, up in others
Weekly Wrap, Friday, February 23, 2024
Youthful inflows and the last inflation mile
Retail sales stronger in 2023
Annual sales in Alberta came in at $102 billion last year and were 4.4% higher than in 2022
It's raining orders
Restaurant sales in Alberta were resilient through 2023
January thaw
Canada’s inflation rate moves below 3%
Weekly Wrap, Friday, February 16, 2024
The bumpy road home
Gaining ground
A better year for new vehicles sales in Alberta
The Cupid effect
Spending on dining and entertainment on Valentine’s Day
Thanks for the grub!
A quick overview of Alberta’s agricultural sector
Food stuff
The softening of major crop prices continued in Alberta in December
Weekly Wrap Friday, February 9, 2024
Productivity part 2 - industry mix matters
New year gain
Alberta employment off to a solid start in 2024