JUNE 2016
   
Business Counts - June 2016
Regional Statistics & Research Update
Comox Valley Economic Development's services include the collection and provision of economic data and statistics about the region. To view additional resources click here.
 

154 single-family homes sold in the Comox Valley in May 2016, a 50% increase over  May 2015. 12 months-to-date single-family unit sales are were 941, a 17% increase over the same period last year. The average single-family unit selling price for May 2016 was $413,820, a 13% increase over May 2015. 
Source: VIREB Graph Stats Comox Valley
     
employment Labour Force
 
The BC unemployment rate increased from 5.8% in April 2016 to 6.1% in May 2016. The labour force did not grow or contract and the participation rate also stayed static. The number of employed decreased 0.4% and the number of unemployed rose 4.9% from April 2016 to May 2016. The Vancouver Island/Coast Development region's 3-month moving average unemployment rate saw a 0.8% decrease from 6.6% to 5.8% in May from April, with an increase of 2,500 employed.
Source: Statistics Canada Labour Force Survey, Highlights prepared by BC Stats 
* Data is Seasonally Adjusted 
 
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Consumer Price Index 
 
The Consumer Price Index (CPI) in BC rose 1.7% in May 2016 over May 2015. The inflation rate falls from 1.7% to 1.6% when food is excluded and rises to 2.3% when energy is excluded. The CPI in metropolitan areas of BC, Victoria and Vancouver, rose 1.7% and 2.0% respectively. Canada's CPI increased by 1.5% in November, with Ontario having the highest increase (1.9%) and Quebec having the lowest (0.7%).
Source: Statistics Canada Consumer Price Index, Highlights prepared by BC Stats 

tourism
  Tourism Indicators
Additional Hotel Room Tax Revenues for Q1 2016 were up 38.3% over Q1 2015;  February showed the largest growth over last year with an 81.6% increase. True Visitor Parties YTD at the Vancouver Island Visitor Centre through to May 2016 are up 4.8% over over 2015. The Comox Valley Airport has seen an increase in passenger volumes of 21.1% in March 2016 over 2015, and a YTD increase of 15.3% over 2015- See chart below.
Source: AHRT Report, VIVC Report, Destination BC Tourism Indicator Report 
 
news
News & Events    

 
Comox Named as Front Runner for FWSAR Project

Team Spartan, the force behind the pitch for the C-27J as the new FWSAR plane, named Comox as its location of choice for the Search and Rescue Training Centre.

Read more here. Watch CTV News here.

Find out more about the FWSAR project here.

Comox Valley Seafood off to Asia

Gfresh, the world's largest online marketing firm for seafood trade in Asia, and China Certification and Inspection Group Canada, a subsidiary of China's official food inspection agency signed a memorandum of understanding at the end of the BC Seafood Expo. Read more here.

BC Seafood Expo Drives Media Coverage on Industry
Extensive international and national media coverage for the Comox Valley and BC seafood sector continues to be generated thanks in part to 30 visiting media that attended the Expo and 10th annual BC Shellfish and Seafood Festival, June 9-19, as part of CVEDS Visiting Media Program. Read more here.