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 March 2024 over March 2023 was 1.7%. The largest contributors were food (3.5%), shelter (4.3%), recreation, education and reading (8.1%), and Health and personal care (3.1%).

February 2024 year-to-date retail trade is up by 2.1% over the same period in 2023. 

• Sub-sectors that posted increases were Gasoline stations (3.5%), Furniture and home furnishings stores (18.9%), Building material and garden equipment and supplies dealers (13.7%), Health and personal care stores (8.0%), Grocery stores (3.5%), General merchandise stores (4.5%), and All other (39.1%).
• During the same time period, new car dealers (-1.8%), Used car dealers (-21.6%), Electronics and appliance stores (-6.0%), Clothing and clothing accessories stores (-1.3%), Sporting goods, hobby, book and music stores (-5.6%), and beer, wine and liquor stores (-38.5%) posted declines.    

February 2024 year-to-date new motor vehicle (units) sales were up 14.7% from February 2023. New minivans, sport-utility vehicles, light and heavy trucks, vans and buses sales were up/down 16.4% while new passenger cars sales were down -8.2%.

February 2024 year-to-date restaurant receipts were up 5.3% over the same period in 2023. Within restaurant receipts, Special food services (6.3%), Full-service restaurants (0.9%), and Limited-service eating places (8.7%) increased. At the same time, declines were noted in Drinking places (alcoholic beverages) (-3.9%).

February 2024 year-to-date manufacturing sales are down by -4.7% over the same period in 2023.

• Sub-sectors that posted increases were Machinery manufacturing sales (7.5%).
• Sub-sectors that posted decreases were Food manufacturing sales (-7.4%), Fabricated metal product manufacturing sales (-0.3%), and all other Manufacturing sales (-5.5%).

February 2024 year-to-date wholesale trade was up 10.1% over the same period in 2023.

• Food, beverage and tobacco merchant wholesalers (46.3%), Personal and household goods merchant wholesalers (3.7%), and Motor vehicle and motor vehicle parts and accessories merchant wholesalers (3.1%) all posted increases while Farm product merchant wholesalers (-26.7%) saw declines. 

Total International merchandise exports were down -26.3% year-to-date March 2024 over March 2023.

•  Sub-sectors that posted increases were Energy products (20.0%), Metal and non-metallic mineral products (29.1%), Basic and industrial chemical, plastic and rubber products (39.3%), Forestry products and building and packaging materials (6.9%), Motor vehicles and parts (9.6%), and Consumer goods (11.9%).
•  Sub-sectors that posted decreases were Farm, fishing and intermediate food products (-29.3%), Metal ores and non-metallic minerals (-46.4%), Industrial machinery, equipment and parts (-35.7%), Electronic and electrical equipment and parts (-31.6%), Aircraft and other transportation equipment and parts (-44.0%), and Special transactions (-1.8%).

Year-to-date April 2024 construction employment was down -2,400 or -5.9% from the same period in 2023.

April 2024, total year-to-date housing starts are up by 49 units or 5.3% over the same period in 2023. Year-to-date increases were observed in singles (22 units or 10.3%), and semi-detached (18 units or 64.3%), row (55 units or 100.0%). Year-to-date declines were noted in apartment and other types (-46 units or -7.4%).

The average year-to-date Housing Price Index Benchmark Composite Price is up from $316,825 in April 2023 to $330,400 in April 2024 or 4.3%.      

March 2024 year-to-date building permits are up 17.3% over the same period in 2023. Sub-sectors that posted increases were (limited) to industrial (459.1%), commercial (26.5%), and institutional and governmental (27.6%). During the same time period, residential (-47.3%) posted a decline.

March 2024 year-to-date employment in Information, culture and recreation was up 2,075 positions or 11% 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.