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 September 2024 over September 2023 was 1.4%. The largest contributors were food (3.3%), shelter (3.7%), recreation, education and reading (8.1%), Health and personal care (2.9%).

August 2024 year-to-date retail trade is up by 3.1% over the same period in 2023.

• Sub-sectors that posted increases were: New car dealers (1.8%), Gasoline stations (9.2%), Furniture and home furnishings stores (6.5%), Health and personal care stores (9.2%), Grocery stores (9.2%), General merchandise stores (3.7%), All other (41.4%).
• During the same time period, Used car dealers (-30.8%), Electronics and appliance stores (-9.5%), Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (-13.7%), Clothing and clothing accessories stores (-0.7%), Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (-8.3%), Beer, wine and liquor stores (-36.2%) posted declines.

August 2024 year-to-date new motor vehicle (units) sales were up 20.3% from August 2023. New minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses sales were up 21.6% while New passenger cars sales were also up 3.5%.

August 2024 year-to-date restaurant receipts were up 4.4% over the same period in 2023. Within restaurant receipts, Special food services (7.4%) and Limited-service eating places (7.6%) increased. At the same time, declines were noted in Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) (-6.4%) and Full-service restaurants (-0.1%).

August 2024 year-to-date manufacturing sales are down by -5.2% over the same period in 2023.

• Sub-sectors that posted decreases were: Food manufacturing sales (-6.2%), Machinery manufacturing sales (-17.4%), Fabricated metal product manufacturing sales (-14.9%), and All other Manufacturing sales (-1.4%).

August 2024 year-to-date wholesale trade was down -18.4% over the same period in 2023.

• Sub-sectors that posted increases were: Food, beverage and tobacco merchant wholesalers (31.2%), Personal and household goods merchant wholesalers (5.3%).
• Sub-sectors that posted decreases were: Farm product merchant wholesalers (-17.5%), Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories merchant wholesalers (-1.9%).

Total International merchandise exports were down -10.2% year-to-date September 2024 over September 2023.

• Sub-sectors that posted increases were: Energy products (15.2%), Basic and industrial chemical, plastic and rubber products (20.0%), Forestry products and building and packaging materials (6.4%), Motor vehicles and parts (9.0%), Special transactions (1.1%).
• Sub-sectors that posted decreases were: Farm, fishing and intermediate food products (-13.7%), Metal ores and non-metallic minerals (-32.9%), Metal and non-metallic mineral products (-12.9%), Industrial machinery, equipment and parts (-38.5%), Electronic and electrical equipment and parts (-1.0%), Aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts (-45.2%), Consumer goods (-10.9%).

Year-to-date September 2024 construction employment was down -490 or -1.1% from the same period in 2023.

October 2024, total year-to-date housing starts are up by 225 units or 7.5% over the same period in 2023.

• Year-to-date increases were observed in singles (206 units or 25.3%), semi-detached (6 units or 3.7%), row (131 units or 60.4%).
• Year-to-date declines were noted in apartment and other types (-118 units or -6.6%).

The average year-to-date Housing Price Index Benchmark Composite Price is up/down from $322,670 in October 2023 to $338,200 in October 2024 or 4.8%.

September 2024 year-to-date building permits are up by 17.5% over the same period in 2023. Sub-sectors that posted increases were limited to: residential (12.2%), industrial (12.5%), institutional and governmental (98.6%). During the same time period, commercial (-10.0%) posted a decline.

October 2024 year-to-date employment in Information, culture and recreation was up 1,140 positions or 5.5% over same period in 2023.

Q3 2024 Provincial population was up 30,558 persons or 2.5% over 2023 Q3 to 1,239,865, an all-time high.

In addition, the provincial population grew by 6,797 people over the second quarter of 2024.