Ottawa, Ontario, Jan. 12, 2021 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Conference Board of Canada has released its two-year economic outlook and forecasts that real gross domestic product (GDP) will grow 5.3 per cent in 2021 and 3.5 per cent in 2022 respectively.

The growth forecasts for the next two years follow an estimated economic contraction of 5.3 per cent in 2020, one of the deepest recessions in modern times. Going forward, the strength of Canada’s economic recovery will largely depend on the successful distribution of vaccines against COVID-19.

“The news that safe and effective vaccines against COVID-19 have begun to be distributed has provided optimism that the pandemic could soon be beaten,” says Pedro Antunes, Chief Economist at The Conference Board of Canada. “A successful rollout of vaccines will encourage Canadian households to spend some of what they’ve amassed in savings over the past year, which will help bolster the economy.”

Household finances in Canada are in great shape thanks to government support and travel bans that have cut spending on foreign travel to almost nothing. Aggregate household savings swelled from $18 billion in 2019 to over $200 billion in 2020. Even with a rebound in spending this year, household balance sheets will average $113 billion, or roughly five times what was normally held in savings in the four years prior to the pandemic.

While households have the stockpiles to grow their spending, they are tentative to do so. Canada’s economy remains a long way from normal. Employment in November, for example, was three per cent below where it was in February before the pandemic struck. That weakness reflects a deep recession.

Many Canadian industries will not fully recover until the second half of 2021, when the health risks associated with COVID-19 will have dissipated, borders re-opened and households and businesses can get back to normal.

“Activities that require in-person transactions continue to be the hardest hit,” says Antunes.  “This includes brick and mortar retailers, personal services, culture and recreation, food and beverage services, and anything related to tourism. It will be a long road to recovery.”

Federal and provincial governments continue to provide financial support to businesses and households to help them during the pandemic, and that support will drive up public debt to record levels, putting a strain on government finances and public spending once the crisis is over.

The Conference Board of Canada expects a global recovery as vaccines are made available across advanced and developing economies, which will help bolster business confidence, investment, and trade, especially as borders reopen over the second half of 2021.

As such, economic activity in Canada is forecast to pick-up on its own without the need for the additional fiscal stimulus of between $70 billion and $100 billion that the federal government announced in its November 30th fiscal update. The Conference Board has revised its forecast for real GDP for 2020 from -6.6 per cent to -5.3 per cent in the new two-year outlook.

The successful rollout of vaccines in Canada and around the world, and no resurgence of the coronavirus, are key factors in the assumptions made for Canada’s economic recovery over the next few years. Still, even if COVID-19 is beaten by the end of 2021, the pandemic will have lasting effects on the economy.

Telecommuting, a reduction in business travel, changes in consumer preferences, and an increase in online shopping will force significant changes on many Canadian businesses. And, most concerning, is the massive increase in federal and provincial/territorial government debt, which will hamper for decades to come governments’ ability to deliver programs.

Regarding the global economy, The Conference Board of Canada estimates that real GDP plunged 4.3 per cent in 2020—a much steeper drop than in 2009 when the world was shaken by the Great Recession. In 2021, the widespread availability of a vaccine in the developed world will lead to rising consumer and business confidence, which will boost economic activity, especially in the second half of 2021. Real GDP is forecast to increase by close to 5.0 per cent.

In the United States, the arrival of effective vaccines against COVID-19 suggests that the pandemic should start to fade by the autumn of 2021. However, the U.S. economy is in for a tough few months at the start of 2021. After surging at an annual pace above 30 per cent in the third quarter of 2020, U.S. real GDP growth slowed to less than 5.0 per cent in the final quarter.

While a slowdown in growth from the dramatic surge in the third quarter was anticipated, the slump has been exacerbated by the latest mandated shutdowns of numerous U.S. states. The Conference Board forecasts 4.2 per cent in real GDP growth for the United States in 2021, driven largely by pent-up consumer demand.

The full forecast is available for subscribers, here. Media should contact media@conferenceboard.ca for access.

About the Conference Board of Canada:

The Conference Board of Canada is the country’s leading independent research organization. Our mission is to empower and inspire leaders to build a stronger future for all Canadians through our trusted research and unparalleled connections. Follow The Conference Board of Canada on Twitter @ConfBoardofCda

 

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