Advertise On EU-Digest

Annual Advertising Rates

3/11/14

US - Canada - Economy: Anemic Economic Figures For US And Canada blamed on Severe Winter

U.S. growth is expected to come in at around 1.7 per cent for the January to March period. In Canada, the number is even bleaker — a mere 0.5 per cent. Both figures are well behind growth rates seen elsewhere in the developed world.

The average growth rate across G7 countries is expected to be 2.2 per cent.

"The United States and Canada are both also expected to experience an uneven pattern of growth in the near term, owing in part to the disruptive effect of repeated episodes of severe winter weather," the think-tank said.

"A number of activities were restrained by the storms and cold temperatures, which is likely to depress first-quarter GDP, with some bounceback effect in the second quarter in the absence of further negative shocks."

But the slowdown, even in chilly North America, will be temporary, the OECD says, after winter eventually releases its icy grip. Canada's economy will expand by 2.4 per cent in the spring quarter, the OECD predicts.

In almost all economies, consensus forecasts for 2014 have ratcheted up over the last few months.

The North American slowdown actually started in the last quarter of 2013, as the U.S. government shutdown caused economic activity overall to be slower than it would have been otherwise.

Economy will rebound after rough winter, OECD says - Business - CBC News

No comments: