Alberta’s economy just keeps humming

November 21, 2011

CALGARY, AB, Nov. 21, 2011/ Troy Media/ - Indicators for economic activity in Alberta during the third quarter have come up roses so far, and another sign that the economy is humming came along this morning with wholesale trade rising to its highest level on record.

Alberta wholesalers brought in $6.13 billion in revenues in September, the highest amount on record and only the second month in history above the $6 billion mark. During September wholesale activity rose 2.0 per cent and is up 12.1 per cent from a year ago, the second largest gain of any province behind Saskatchewan (+22.5 per cent).

After plummeting during the recession, it has been a nearly straight line upwards for wholesale trade in Alberta. Activity in the sector is one of the few that has definitively regained its pre-recession peak (unlike manufacturing shipment exports and vehicle sales, for instance)

Wholesale trade gives an indication of purchases by businesses. If wholesale trade in Alberta is strong it means firms in the principle industries (energy, agriculture, forestry, retail etc.) are out there spending money and in turn expect their sales to grow.

Wholesale activity for the third quarter joins a host of other indicators (employment, manufacturing shipments, vehicle sales, building permits, housing starts and exports), which all show the Alberta economy picked up during Q3, despite all the turmoil in the global economy.

| ATB Financial

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