Go for that dream home despite dropping markets, Edmonton economist says
Natasha Riebe | CBC News | Posted: February 9, 2018 1:00 PM | Last Updated: February 9, 2018
'If you have your financing sorted out, by all means, I would proceed,' economist says
Plunging stock prices have some market watchers wondering how the downward trend will affect the economy, jobs and future investment.
Edmonton's chief economist, John Rose, said although consumer confidence will likely waver, he advises people to stay on a solid investment path.
"If you're considering a major expenditure such as a house or a car, if you have your financing sorted out, by all means I would proceed," Rose told CBC News Thursday.
The Dow Jones Industrial Average lost just over 1,000 points, or four per cent, to finish at 23,860.46 Thursday. The Canadian S&P/TSX Composite Index dropped by 265 points, or 1.7 per cent, to close at 15,065.55.
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"The relationship between the stock market and the economy is — in the sort of near term — is very, very, very loose," he said. "There's only a very indirect connection."
Strong local, global economy
For the first time since the financial downturn in 2008, all the major global economies are strong, with Europe and emerging economies in Africa and Asia in "positive territory" in terms of growth, Rose said.
"The global economy has got a lot of momentum at this point in time," he said.
"It would really take a very significant shock at this point to push the global economy in particular, but to a lesser extent Canada and the United States, into recessionary conditions," he said. "It would take a real, real severe shock."
Rose said Edmonton, compared to other Canadian jurisdictions, has positive momentum with steady housing and employment sectors.
Vulnerable energy sector
The impact of falling stock markets will be more obvious for the energy sector, Rose said.
"This kind of volatility in particular is not good for the energy sector," he said. "Because it's driven, obviously, by energy prices, which tend to bounce around."
In the long run, the energy sector will feel the effects more sharply compared to the retail and construction sector.
"In a volatile market, the energy sector always comes out a bit of a loser."
Employment
The jobs situation in Alberta has been steadily improving.
Last month, Statistics Canada released job figures showing Alberta made modest gains in the accommodation, food services and natural resources industries, adding 26,000 mostly full-time jobs.
Statistics Canada is set to release new employment figures Friday.
For Alberta as as whole, the energy sector is still down almost 30,000 jobs from the peak in July 2014, including 9,000 jobs in Edmonton.
"So [a] long way to go, but those numbers will continue to improve," Rose said.
If stocks continue on their rocky path in the second half of 2018, then we'll likely see negative effects on employment as companies start to pull back their investments, he said.