General
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Interest Rates will remain low
Average prime rate for 2005 will vary between 4.5% - 5.00%. Expect slight increases in 2006 with rates varying between 5% - 6.24%. |
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Edmonton
Outlook
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Retail Sales
 Current projections are for a healthy 5.8% increase in 2005 and 6.5% in 2006. (Side Note: Forecasters are projecting retail sales growth in Alberta to exceed that of Canada. This is due to low unemployment rates and above average disposable incomes which provide strong consumer confidence.)
Housing Starts
12,400 starts in 2003. The City Forecast Committee is estimating 9,600 starts in 2005 and 8,800 in 2006. (Side Note: With interest rates now on the increase, housing starts are forecast to decline.) |
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Personal Disposable Income
Rate of growth was 3.7% in 2003. The City Forecast Committee is estimating an astonishing growth of 6.0% in 2005 and 4.5% in 2006. |
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| This information was provided by the 2005 Greater Edmonton Economic Outlook document that is prepared yearly by Edmonton Economic Development Corporation. |
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