November 6, 2025
RED FM News Desk
Calgary business owners are increasingly anxious about their economic outlook, according to a new report released Thursday by the Calgary Chamber of Commerce in partnership with Statistics Canada.
The data shows that 24 per cent of local businesses feel pessimistic about the months ahead — the highest level recorded since the third quarter of 2023.
Rising costs are the biggest driver of concern. Fifty-eight per cent of entrepreneurs identified “cost-related obstacles” as their top challenge, with inflation and mounting debt expenses adding to the pressure.
“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, the chamber’s vice-president of policy and external affairs. “When nearly one-in-four businesses are pessimistic about the future, it signals more than a temporary slowdown — it points to deep structural issues.”
Trade uncertainty is also weighing heavily on local companies. One-third of survey participants reported being directly affected by U.S. tariffs, and nearly half say they are holding off on new investments over the next year as a result.
Supply chain concerns are intensifying as well, with 49 per cent of Calgary businesses expecting disruptions to worsen.
Ismail-Teja says coordinated action is needed across all levels of government to reverse the trend and restore confidence in Calgary’s business community.
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