The BCREA Nowcast estimate for provincial economic growth, measured as year-over-year growth in real GDP, indicated a 1.4 per cent increase in April 2026. By comparison, the Canadian economy saw a year-over-year growth of 1.1 per cent in April. Our preliminary estimate for May suggests that year-over-year growth was equal to April at 1.4 per cent for BC, compared to 1.3 per cent for Canada. On a month-over-month basis, our Nowcast measure indicates four consecutive months of contraction in BC's real GDP.

On a regional level, growth remains slow across all BC regions, with the Lower Mainland continuing to register its slowest rate of growth in years due to a weak labour market. One bright spot in the regional Nowcast is a strong recovery in Northern BC following over a year of contraction.

To view the full interactive BCREA Nowcast, click here.
To download the PDF, click here.

For more information, please contact:
Brendon Ogmundson
Chief Economist
Direct: 604.742.2796
Mobile: 604.505.6793
Email: [email protected]