Retail sales declined across the country from February to March, as the pandemic set in, but comparatively, Saskatchewan remained relatively strong.

Statistics Canada cites the national average was a 10 per cent decrease, while Saskatchewan’s was a drop of 1.5 per cent. From March of 2019 to March 2020, Saskatchewan ranked third in retail sales with a 4.9 per cent decline. The average was 8.4 per cent.

Across the country gas stations’ sales were down by around 22 per cent from March of 2019 to 2020. Clothing and accessories sales were down by almost 52 per cent. On the other side, sales were up at grocery stories by almost 30 per cent and 19 per cent for beer, liquor and wine stores.