BC Monthly Real GDP Estimate for April 2026 & Preliminary Estimate for May 2026

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.