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There was a noticeable increase in the number of Halifax businesses expecting to increase their sales prices over the next three months. This may be a result of the increases in expected operating costs, or it may be the due to the expectations around tariffs (note this survey was conducted between January and February 2025)

After a decline in business optimism in Q1 2023, overall business optimism in Halifax increased in Q2 and remains high relative to other Canadian CMAs. While inflationary pressures and some cost related obstacles are expected to improve, input costs andrecruitment obstacles are expected to worsen in the next three months for Halifax Businesses.

The number of Halifax businesses with an optimistic outlook for the next 12 months decline from the previous quarter. Cost-related obstacles remain the biggest concern, with 71% of Halifax businesses indicating it to be an obstacle over the next 3 months. Inflation related obstacles saw the biggest negative change from Q1 to Q2 of 2024…

Using responses from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, this edition of the Business Conditions Report provides a new focused analysis of Haligonian goods exporters and importers amid the escalating trade conflict between Canada and the United States.

Overall business optimism throughout Canada’s major CMA’s declined over the last quarter. Despite a 3 point drop for Halifax business optimism, it remains higher than most other cities and the national average. Inflationary pressures remain the top obstacle for Halifax businesses but have significantly improved overthe last quarter. While labour related challenges have also improved,…

The number of Halifax businesses with an optimistic outlook for the next 12 months increased from the previous quarter. Cost-related obstacles remain the biggest concern, with 62% of Halifax businesses indicating it to be an obstacle over the next 3 months, down from 71% the previous quarter. While cost obstacles continue to dominate the top…

Using data from Statistics Canada’s Canadian Survey on Business Conditions, this edition of the Business Conditions Report builds on our previous quarter’s analysis of the Canada–U.S. trade dispute. It examines a new set of indicators to further assess and track the economic health of our business community.

Overall business optimism throughout Canada’s major CMA’s remained unchanged from Q3 to Q4 of 2023. Halifax Business optimism fell slightly, while central Canada saw the most positive optimistic changes.

The number of Halifax businesses with an optimistic outlook for the next 12 months remained steady and above the national average.

As Halifax’s business community heads into 2026, our latest Halifax Business Conditions Report offers a focused analysis of the key trends and pressures shaping the end of 2025 and the year ahead

With the continuing threats from global warming and climate change, the Halifax Chamber of Commerce investigated insights into how SMEs in Halifax are adapting to climate change and transitioning towards more sustainable business practices.

Business owners in Halifax are fairly split on the issue of whether they support or oppose the use of strong mayor powers in HRM.There is also a noticeable divide in opinions about the potential effects of a change in municipal governance, with a slight majority believing it would have a positive impact on local businesses.…