Margo Wynhofen

Highlights Rental market conditions across Canadas large urban centres remained tight despite lessening market pressures in some centres due to record level growth in supply outpacing strong demand. The average vacancy rate for purpose-built rental apartments1 rose to 2.2% in 2024 from 1.5% in 2023, remaining below the 10-year historical average of 2.7%. Average rent growth slowed, with rents for 2-bedroom units rising by 5.4%2, down from the record 8.0% in 2023. Rents increased by 23.5% when units turned over, which is close to 2023 rates. Rent hikes on turnover units accounted for more than 40% of the overall rent increase. Despite the slowdown in rent growth, renter affordability remained strained. The increase in rental stock was driven by newly completed, higher-priced units, which were unaffordable for many renters and primarily served higher-income households. https://www.cmhc-schl.gc.ca/professionals/housing-markets-data-and-research/market-reports/rental-market-reports-major-centres

From Scotiabank All Canadian provinces are poised for better growth in 2025, despite anticipating stronger policy headwinds in late 2025 and 2026 from both domestic and international fronts. Consumption is expected to accelerate over the next few quarters, driven by the Bank of Canadas rate cuts, which will alleviate household financial pressures, further supported by excess savings and fiscal stimulus. Residential investment is set to surge, fueled by lower financing costs and robust demand in an under-supplied market, driving economic expansion as we enter the new year. The rebound in interest rate-sensitive sectors, while beneficial for all provinces, is particularly promising for Ontario and British Columbia (B.C.), which have experienced notable contractions in housing activities. Policy uncertainty from the new U.S. administration poses a significant risk. Despite the lack of clarity on the path ahead, we have made some attempt to incorporate potential policy changes in our current forecast. Household spending is set to accelerate in 2025, driven by the Bank of Canadas rate cuts, elevated savings, and fiscal stimulus. Consumption held up solidly over the course of this year and has shown signs of picking up in the third quarter, surpassing expectations. Posting strong headline gains in the second half of this year, retail sales data highlights exceptional strength in the Atlantic provinces, although B.C. and Ontario experienced some soft patches. Despite the continued drag from ongoing mortgage resets, households should be able to manage higher mortgage payments by adapting saving and spending habits. As interest rates decline, this impact will also ease, paving the way for increased consumption. We anticipate a broad-based surge in household spending, fueled by stimulus cheques from Ontario and eventually B.C., as well as the federal government, GST/HST cuts, and mortgage rule changes as we move into 2025. This combination of factors sets the stage for a rebound in growth, with consumer confidence and spending power on the rise. Strong labour market conditions support consumption growth. After a period of cooling since the latter half of last year, employment growth stabilized and remained steady throughout 2024. However, employment gains have consistently lagged behind the rapid expansion of the labour force, driving up unemployment rates nationwide. This cooling trend is particularly evident in Quebec and Ontario, where employment growth slowed sharply, though recent signs of stabilization and recovery have begun to emerge. In Alberta, job gains have shown signs of weakening despite rapid population growth, following strong outperformance up until early this year. The Atlantic provinces have bucked the trend, with robust job gains outpacing strong labour force growth, indicating remarkable economic momentum. We anticipate that the worst of the unemployment rate deterioration is behind us and expect unemployment rates to stabilize around levels just above the non-accelerating inflation rate of unemployment (NAIRU) over the next few quarters. https://www.scotiabank.com/ca/en/about/economics/economics-publications/post.other-publications.the-provinces.scotiabank-s-provincial-outlook--december-17--2024-.html