According to the Saskatchewan Finance in its 2023-2024 budget forecast, real GDP is predicted to slow down significantly from the 4.8% increase in 2021 to 1.3% for 2022 and 1.8% in 2024.

The average year-to-date rate of change in the all-items Consumer Price Index (inflation) in February 2024 over February 2023 was 1.8%. The largest contributors were food (3.9%), shelter (4.4%), recreation, education and reading (8.3%), and Health and personal care (3.3%).

January 2024 year-to-date retail trade is down by -2.9% over the same period in 2023.

• Sub-sectors that posted increases were Furniture and home furnishings stores (23.0%), Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (2.9%), Health and personal care stores (12.3%), Clothing and clothing accessories stores (1.8%), General merchandise stores (2.2%), and all other (11.4%).
• During the same time period, new car dealers (-10.5%), Used car dealers (-25.3%), Gasoline stations (-1.1%), Electronics and appliance stores (-4.1%), Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (-8.0%), Grocery stores (-1.1%), and Beer, wine and liquor stores (-39.4%) posted declines.

January 2024 year-to-date new motor vehicle (units) sales were up 15.9% from January 2023. New minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses sales were up 18.0% while new passenger cars sales were down -13.7%.

January 2024 year-to-date restaurant receipts were up 3.4% over the same period in 2023. Within restaurant receipts Special food services (7.1%) and Limited-service eating places (6.8%) increased. At the same time, declines were noted in Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) (-6.1%) and Full-service restaurants (-1.5%).

January 2024 year-to-date manufacturing sales are down by -5.3% over the same period in 2023.

• Sub-sectors that posted increases were Machinery manufacturing sales (33.7%).
• Sub-sectors that posted decreases were Food manufacturing sales (-7.9%), Fabricated metal product manufacturing sales (-5.2%), and All other Manufacturing sales (-9.5%).

January 2024 year-to-date wholesale trade was up 10.6% over the same period in 2023.

• Food, beverage and tobacco merchant wholesalers (39.8%) and Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories merchant wholesalers (2.8%) all posted increases while Farm product merchant wholesalers (-44.8%) and Personal and household goods merchant wholesalers (-0.2%) saw declines.

Total International merchandise exports were down -26.4% year-to-date February 2024 over February 2023.

• Sub-sectors that posted increases were Energy products (16.0%), Metal and non-metallic mineral products (56.1%), Basic and industrial chemical, plastic and rubber products (27.2%), Forestry products and building and packaging materials (11.3%), Motor vehicles and parts (16.2%), Consumer goods (15.9%), and Special transactions (3.1%).
• Sub-sectors that posted decreases were Farm, fishing and intermediate food products (-29.3%), Metal ores and non-metallic minerals (-47.0%), Industrial machinery, equipment and parts (-27.7%), Electronic and electrical equipment and parts (-51.4%), and Aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts (-11.4%). 

Year-to-date March 2024 construction employment was down -2,667 or -6.5% from the same period in 2023 with weak housing start and residential permitting data.

March 2024, total year-to-date housing starts are up down by -99 units or -13.4% over the same period in 2023. Year-to-date increases were observed in singles (46 units or 36.5%), semi-detached (32 units or 266.7%), and row (48 units or 104.3%). Year-to-date declines were limited to apartment and other types (-225 units or -40.5%).

The average year-to-date Housing Price Index Benchmark Composite Price is up from $315,300 in March 2023 to $327,700 in March 2024 or 3.9%.

February 2024 year-to-date building permits are up 7.3% over the same period in 2023. Sub-sectors that posted increases were industrial (704.4%) and institutional and governmental (39.6%). During the same time period, residential (-58.5%) and commercial (-0.5%) posted declines.       

March 2024 year-to-date employment in Information, culture and recreation was up 1,900 positions or 9.9% over same period in 2023.

 Q1 2024 Provincial population was up 30,624 persons or 2.6% over 2023 Q1 to 1,225,493, an all-time high. 

• Driving population growth was post-COVID resurgent international immigration as borders re-opened. Net inter-provincial migration has been negative every quarter since Q2 2013.