Soft Building Permits in Alberta Could Actually Be GOOD NEWS!

Today’s release from Statistics Canada showed that building permits – that favourite bellwether of economists trying to divine the future of construction activity—in Alberta were kinda flat in December. That could be taken as bad news. But, if looked at another way, building permits are not that far off the last 10 year average in Alberta. Everything looks weak in this province compared to 2007-2008. And no one I’ve talked to in the construction sector wants to go back to THAT overheated environment.

So really, it’s good news, isn’t it? Solid construction activity without costs and budgets being blown out of control!

See more of my comments under “Archived Economic Comments”  here.