The Struggle of Small Businesses in B. C.

Let's dive into the numbers. Small businesses in B. C. saw their sales shrink by 5% in the third quarter of 2024 compared to the same time frame in 2023. To put this into perspective, this drop was the biggest among the three closely watched Canadian provinces: B. C. , Alberta, and Ontario. Across the board, small businesses in all three provinces saw a decrease in overall sales, with B. C. bearing the brunt of the impact. The decline was 2. 5% in the third quarter of 2024. These figures came out on a Thursday in Febuary, following a recent report which measured small business confidence. This index measures small business confidence on a scale from 0 to 100. For B. C. , the score was 52. 7 in December, a drop of 4. 5 points from November. A score above 50 means more business owners expect stronger performance in the next months. In 12-month outlook, the Canadian average was 54. 6. B. C. trailed behind at 43. 6 on the three-month index. This was the lowest among all Canadian provinces. Small businesses in B. C. faced tough challenges during these months. The bank of Canada tried to help by slashing the policy interest rate by 0. 75 percentage points to 4. 25% by the end of September. It has since dropped to 3. 0%. The threatened tariffs from the U. S. have added to the woes. Some signs toward the end of 2024 hinted at growing confidence among small business owners. However, the threats of tariffs from the U. S. and the subsequent countermeasures shadowed this optimism. Tariffs, would raise costs for both businesses and consumers, affecting the intertwined supply chains and raising the cost of operations. The uncertainty and impact of tariffs could be far-reaching, with potential effects on supply chains and business operations. For now the tariffs have been put on hold until early March. The intertwined economies of Canada and the U. S. mean that any tariffs could have serious consequences, not just for businesses, but for everyone involved. The situation is complex, and the future remains uncertain for many small businesses in B. C. The potential tariffs and political instability create a challenging environment for small businesses.