BC Monthly Real GDP Estimate – March & Preliminary April 2025

March 2025: Growth Holds at 1.8%

According to the Nowcast, BC’s real GDP grew by 1.8 per cent year-over-year in March, edging slightly ahead of Canada’s national growth rate of 1.7 per cent for the same month.

This marks a slight pickup from February, still largely reflecting tariff-driven buying behaviour — as both consumers and businesses moved to secure goods ahead of tariff implementation. This surge helped lift economic activity in the first quarter, but it also signals potential softening ahead.

April 2025: Growth Slowing to 1.2% (Preliminary Estimate)

Looking forward, the preliminary April estimate suggests that BC’s economic growth is slowing back to 1.2 per cent year-over-year, in line with Canada’s advanced monthly estimate of 1.4 per cent.

This moderation signals that the boost from tariff-avoidant behaviour is fading, and underlying economic momentum is cooling.

Regional Picture: Northern BC Feeling the Pinch

While most regions across BC appear to be cooling after a strong Q1, the Northern region is facing more severe slowdowns, particularly due to:

• Volatile conditions in hiring and investment in the natural resources sector,

• Greater exposure to commodity market swings,

• Project delays or scaling back by resource-dependent businesses.

This uneven regional performance highlights how BC’s economic growth story is becoming more fragmented, with some areas feeling sharper slowdowns than others.

Stay Informed

For a closer look at BC’s economic activity — including interactive regional breakdowns and real-time updates — check out the full BCREA Nowcast.