New data says Calgary businesses continuing to suffer from costs, trade pressures

Business owners in Calgary are feeling pessimistic about their economic futures, according to a new report.

Calgary business owners are feeling pessimistic about their economic future, says a new report released Thursday.

The Calgary Chamber of Commerce says it worked with Statistics Canada to learn that 24 per cent of local businesses are anxious about the coming days, the highest level since the third quarter of 2023.

The report also found 58 per cent of local entrepreneurs said “cost-related obstacles” were their chief concern. Other concerns are also tied to expenses, the chamber said, including inflation and debt costs.

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“With cost-related pressures emerging as the most significant obstacles for Calgary businesses, it’s clear that many are struggling to stay competitive in today’s challenging economic environment,” said Ruhee Ismail-Teja, vice-president of policy and external affairs at the Calgary Chamber of Commerce, in a news release.

“When nearly one-in-four businesses are pessimistic about the future, it signals more than a temporary slowdown – it points to deep structural issues.”

The chamber said continued trade uncertainty is another concern for businesses, with one-third of participants saying they are directly affected by U.S. tariffs and nearly half are holding back on any investment for the next year due to this factor.

Forty-nine per cent of Calgary businesses expect supply chain challenges to worsen, the chamber said.

Ismail-Teja says all levels of government need to work together to change this trend.

“We encourage continued focus on strengthening trade-enabling infrastructure, streamlining regulatory processes, resolving labour disruptions and expanding Canada’s international trade opportunities,” she said.

“By working together, we can create the conditions businesses need to invest and grow.”