A majority of British Columbians now say that the province’s economy is “good” or “very good,” according to new survey numbers that pollster Ipsos-Reid describes as “stunning.”

In fact, the six-in-10 B.C. respondents, or 58 per cent, who expressed new optimism over the province’s economy is the highest percentage measured by Ipsos-Reid over many polls over the past seven years.

“When I first got the numbers back I had to make sure they were correct — it was that big of a surprise,” says Kyle Braid, Ipsos-Reid’s Vancouver-based vice-president.

“It’s not only a major turnaround, but it’s a turnaround in a very short period of time,” he added.

In the last poll eight months ago, only 36 per cent described the B.C. economy as “good” or “very good.”

Braid said the sudden increase in optimism reflects the turnaround in B.C.’s economy.

For example, just before Friday’s release of the Ipsos-Reid poll, a housing outlook report by Credit Union Central of B.C. said that the province’s housing market is forecast to post further gains and won’t reach its peak until after 2005.

“A market peak is not yet in sight and unless mortgage rates rise substantially more than expected, a stronger economy and higher population growth will boost demand and keep the current upswing alive,” said Helmut Pastrick, Central’s chief economist.

The Central report supported the Ipsos-Reid poll finding that an increasing number of British Columbians are becoming more upbeat about the economy — thus making major purchases such as housing.

The poll also found that Lower Mainland residents are more likely the other B.C. residents to rate the B.C. economy as “good” or “very good” (62 per cent versus 54 per cent).

And it said that men (64 per cent) are more positive about the economy than women (53 per cent).

It also found that residents of non-union households (63 per cent) are more positive than residents of union households (48 per cent).

© The Vancouver Province 2004