Paul Martin's Business Update - September 2nd, 2014

The month of June was tough on barkeeps.

Inclement weather conditions were likely the key contributor to a decline in sales at bars in this province in June. As a result of the decline, aggregate sales for all bars and eating establishments fell about half a percentage point when compared to May. That doesn’t sound like much but it amounts to roughly a million dollars.

Despite the fall in June, however, sales for the year were still up about five per cent, one of the stronger performances in the country and a reflection of the changes we’re seeing in the province. Population is increasing so it’s reasonable to assume that sales at restaurants and bars should be rising as well.

But these figures show that sales in restaurants, fast food outlets and revenues for caterers actually increased…the only drop was in bars and taverns.

The decline, though, was not restricted to this province. That was the story across the country as some provinces, like Manitoba, saw drops three or four times as large as the one experienced in Saskatchewan.