Retail sales were on the rise in December, increasing 4.4 per cent (seasonally-adjusted) over December 2011- the highest on record jump for the province in more than 20 years. According to a report released recently by Statistics Canada, this ranked Saskatchewan in first place among the provinces in terms of percentage change. Nationally, retail sales fell 0.7 per cent for the same time period.
"Consumer confidence is a surefire sign of the strength of our Saskatchewan economy," Economy Minister Bill Boyd said. "We have plenty of good paying job opportunities in every corner of this province, and this is reflected in the spending habits of our Saskatchewan residents.
"More money in our pockets yields a higher quality of life for everyone who calls Saskatchewan home. Based on the strength of December's year-over-year numbers, we are optimistic that retail sales will continue to see gains well into 2013."
