According to the Conference Board of Canada's summer Metropolitan Outlook, Windsor's economy is expected to shift into low gear after roughly three years of numbers well above average.
From 2014 to 2017, the area saw its best real gross domestic product growth since the 1990's resulting in more than 8,000 new jobs which helped push the local unemployment rate to its lowest level since 2000.
Associate director Alan Arcand says it appears those days are over as the latest outlook shows declines across the board due to a number of factors like slowing vehicle sales and higher interest rates.
He says the local housing market will likely start to cool off as well.
"Interest rates are starting to slowly move up toward more normal rates. That's definitely putting a damper on housing market activity. It's also going to put a damper of consumer spending too. Especially for goods that people finance. It'll be even more difficult to purchase those goods given the higher interest rates," says Arcand.
He says they're expecting a slight dip in the construction market before work on the new Gordie Howe International Bridge begins.
"The parkway project is over. Housing starts are declining. So that's going to dampen construction growth, but we think construction growth will pick up quite strongly next year inline with the first full year of construction on the Gordie Howe Bridge. Even in the outer years, you have the mega hospital coming down the line."
However, it's not all doom and gloom according to Arcand — he says the labour market should still see modest increases.
"Employment dipped in 2017, but it's come back strong this year and we think employment will climb by 1.8% this year and grow by a little more muted 0.8% next year. So we are anticipating an economic slow down, but there will still be jobs being created this year and next."
Arcand says Windsor isn't unique as many other cities are facing the same challenges going forward.
The board releases its Metropolitan Outlook several times a year outlining economic forecasts for 16 medium-sized Canadian cities, including Windsor.
— with files from AM800's Paul McDonald