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Small Business Optimism Improves, but Challenges Persist

  • Writer: ClearView Insider
    ClearView Insider
  • May 15, 2025
  • 1 min read

Updated: Jul 25, 2025

Small business confidence edged up in April, according to CFIB’s latest Business Barometer. The 12-month outlook rose to 34.8, a notable improvement from March, but remains below historical norms. Staffing plans and cost pressures continue to weigh on growth, with many businesses cautious about hiring. 


While retail, hospitality and construction sectors showed slight gains, overall sentiment, including in Alberta, remains at early-pandemic levels. 


For Calgary’s CRE market, this cautious optimism highlights the need for strategic planning, particularly in retail and small business-driven sectors. 


Reference: Canadian Federation of Independent Business, "Monthly Business Barometer – April 2025," CFIB, April 25, 2025. 


Connect with ClearView: Interested in learning more about commercial real estate insights? Contact us at info@cvpartners.ca we’re here to help you explore how ClearView can support your commercial real estate goals. 



 

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