News Releases

TORONTO, ONTARIO--(Marketwire - July 9, 2012) - The release of the Bank of Canada's Business Outlook Survey for the second quarter shows a retreat on sales but stability elsewhere, according to BMO Economics. This report supports similar findings from a BMO survey of Canadian businesses.

"Canadian business continues to put a brave face on the outlook," said Doug Porter, Deputy Chief Economist, BMO Capital markets. "The latest European flare-up and sagging U.S. job growth dented sentiment, but perhaps the biggest surprise is that firms remain relatively positive. Investment plans over the next 12 months held steady, while hiring intentions matched a record high at +53 per cent."

"Canadian businesses have shown a remarkable resiliency over the past couple years and are attuned to their unique markets and their customers. While cautiously optimistic, many businesses in Canada are focused on improving productivity through targeted investments in upgrading infrastructure and retooling business processes," said Cathy Pin, Vice-President, BMO Commercial Banking. "Recently, BMO announced a commitment to make $10 billion in credit available for Canadian businesses over the next 3 years; coupled with an attractive interest rate environment, now is a great time for businesses to make important investments that will help them grow." added Ms. Pin.

BMO's Annual Business Survey shows that businesses remain divided in their outlook for the Canadian economy, yet many are looking to make investments and hire this year.

Business Outlook on Economy

Canadian businesses are divided about the future of the Canadian economy with one third confident it will grow this year and almost four in ten believing it will remain the same as 2011. Regionally, Westerners are more confident in the outlook for the Canadian economy than business owners in Central or Eastern Canada.

		Province/Region
Outlook for Canadian Economy	NATIONAL	BC	AB	MB	SK	ON	QC	ATL
GROW	34%	39%	56%	36%	53%	32%	23%	44%
SHRINK	22%	18%	4%	18%	7%	25%	29%	12%
REMAIN the SAME	39%	43%	34%	27%	40%	36%	44%	40%
DON'T KNOW	5%	---	6%	18%	---	8%	3%	4%

Top Challenges Cited by Businesses

According to the BMO survey, reduced consumer spending was cited as the greatest challenge faced by businesses this year. 51 per cent of businesses in the arts/culture, travel and tourism sectors were most likely to cite reduced consumer spending as their biggest challenge; by contrast only 14 per cent of businesses in the manufacturing, construction and mining/oil & gas sectors said it is a top concern. In those sectors, labour costs were the top issue at 26 per cent.

		Province/Region
Greatest Challenges	NATIONAL	BC	AB	MB	SK	ON	QC	ATL
REDUCED CONSUMER SPENDING	22%	37%	20%	18%	27%	24%	17%	20%
ENERGY COSTS	16%	10%	16%	18%	---	19%	17%	16%
LABOUR COSTS	16%	20%	22%	18%	40%	10%	18%	12%
RAW MATERIAL COSTS	11%	6%	10%	---	---	9%	18%	8%
GLOBAL ECONOMY	9%	12%	8%	7%	9%	11%	5%	16%
U.S. ECONOMY	7%	8%	8%	---	---	10%	5%	8%

Investing in Business

Looking ahead, nearly six in ten Canadian business owners plan to invest in their business this year and into 2013. Of those businesses that plan to make investments, 88 per cent plan to invest the same or more than they did last year.

		Province/Region
Plan to Invest in Business	NATIONAL	BC	AB	MB	SK	ON	QC	ATL
YES	59%	59%	54%	36%	60%	60%	57%	72%
NO	36%	35%	38%	55%	40%	34%	39%	24%
Don't Know	5%	6%	8%	9%	---	6%	4%	4%

Hiring Intentions

According to the BMO survey, 46 per cent of Canadian businesses plan to hire new employees this year, while slightly more (51 per cent) do not have plans to add additional staff this calendar year. For those companies who indicated that they are looking to hire this year, 51 per cent have plans to hire more than they did last year.

		Province/Region
Plan to Hire in 2012	NATIONAL	BC	AB	MB	SK	ON	QC	ATL
YES	46%	55%	44%	55%	33%	44%	47%	40%
NO	51%	45%	50%	36%	60%	53%	49%	60%

Consumer Confidence and Prices

With reduced consumer spending ranked as one of their biggest challenges this year, the majority (67 per cent) of Canadian businesses have no plans to increase prices.

		Province/Region
Plan to Charge Customers	NATIONAL	BC	AB	MB	SK	ON	QC	ATL
The SAME	63%	67%	62%	64%	67%	67%	58%	52%
LESS	4%	6%	2%	9%	---	4%	3%	8%
MORE	30%	25%	34%	18%	33%	26%	36%	36%
DON'T KNOW	3%	2%	2%	9%	---	3%	3%	4%

The survey also found that in the past year Canadian businesses have taken a number of steps to improve their business performance. According to the BMO study, 36 per cent say that lower interest rates have had the most positive impact on their business, 47 per cent point to productivity improvements such as upgrading equipment and processes and 49 per cent say lowering expenses/costs have had the most positive effect on their business performance.

The online survey was conducted by Leger Marketing between March 21, 2012 and April 12, 2012, using a sample of 500 Canadian small business owners. A probability sample of the same size would yield a margin of error of ±4.38 per cent, 19 times out of 20.

About BMO Financial Group

Established in 1817 as Bank of Montreal, BMO Financial Group is a highly-diversified North American financial services organization. With total assets of $525 billion as at April 30, 2012, and more than 46,000 employees, BMO Financial Group provides a broad range of retail banking, wealth management and investment banking products and solutions.