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13 Dec

RBC says housing, economy will ease in 2018

General

Posted by: Kimberly Walker

Canada’s strong economy is set to continue into 2018 but it – and the housing market – are set to moderate.

In its latest Economic Outlook, RBC says that although Canada’s economic growth will lead the G7 nations, it will fall from 2017’s predicted 2.9% GDP growth to 1.9% in 2018, followed by 1.6% in 2019.

“Canada’s robust growth in 2017 is likely to moderate somewhat in 2018 as key economic drivers shift, but we still anticipate the economy will continue to outperform its potential,” said Craig Wright, Senior Vice-President and Chief Economist at RBC.

The housing market was one of the key drivers of Canada’s economy in 2017 but for next year there will be a shift to business investment and government infrastructure spending.

The cooling of the housing market which has already begun in recent months will continue with mortgage underwriting rules tightening, and interest rates rising to 1.75% by the end of 2018 RBC forecasts.

All provinces are forecast to grow their economies in 2018 but generally at a slower pace than in 2017. However, RBC expects Saskatchewan and Newfoundland and Labrador to buck this trend with growth exceeding that of 2017.