WHOLESALERS CONTINUED TO STOCK UP IN SEPTEMBER

Wholesale trade numbers for September 2008 jumped by 54.1 per cent on a seasonally unadjusted basis over last September according to a Statistics Canada report released today.

In September 2008, wholesale trade in the province totalled $1.8 billion, up 54.1 per cent, the highest percentage increase in the nation. Nationally, wholesale trade figures were up only 11.9 per cent.

Seasonally adjusted figures indicate Saskatchewan wholesale trade declined by 5.8 per cent between August and September, while nationally trade was up 1.5 per cent.

"Our unadjusted wholesale trade numbers continue to out-perform other provinces by a wide margin when you look at yearly figures," Enterprise and Innovation Minister Lyle Stewart said. "There is a slight cooling in the adjusted numbers which may just be a reflection of when commodity prices started to drop."

In the first nine months of 2008, wholesale trade in Saskatchewan was up by 45.2 per cent when compared to the same period in 2007 (seasonally unadjusted). This was also the highest increase among the provinces, and well ahead of the national average of 3.3 per cent over the same period.

"The figures within the last year continue to track so well, and signal Saskatchewan's wholesalers will continue to be busy supplying businesses with the goods needed to continue our strong economic performance," Stewart said.

-30-

For more information, contact:

Deb Young
Enterprise Saskatchewan
Regina
Phone: 306-798-0503
Email: Deb.Young@gov.sk.ca