Economic growth slowed in BC in 2003. Provincial GDP grew by 2.2%, down from 2.4% in 2002. The 2003 growth rate is a half point worse than the average estimate for 2003 made by BC's economic forecast panel at the beginning of 2003, although it's a half point better than the panel's lower revised estimates made at the end of the year.

You can expect the Campbell government to ignore the decline from 2002, to ignore the early 2003 forecasts which averaged 2.7%, and to claim that doing better than the lower revised forecast is somehow a success.

BC's population grew by 0.8% in 2003 so real GDP per person increased slightly.

Statements about the performance of BC's economy usually rest on incomplete information. The overall picture isn't complete until Statistics Canada releases its preliminary estimates of provincial gross domestic product as it did on April 28th. Like many of Statistics Canada's series, and like forecasts, the preliminary estimate is subject to revision.

April's estimate places BC's growth ahead of Ontario, tied with Alberta, but behind New Brunswick, Saskatchewan, and Newfoundland and Labrador.