Across Canada, sales in food services and drinking places rose 6.4 per cent in August over July. Statistics Canada says nine provinces reported increases with Manitoba being the outlier with a drop of 3.7 per cent. In Saskatchewan, sales were up 2.2 per cent from the month before. The effect of COVID-19 can be seen in the year to year sales comparison. Sales were down here 8.6 per cent from the year before. Other provinces took a much bigger hit compared to August of 2019 with a national average decline of 21.5 per cent.