Food service, bar sales slip in August

Despite the busiest summer ever for tourism on P.E.I., food service and bar sales were down on the Island in August.

• Tourism industry storms through September

Seasonally adjusted sales fell 2.6 per cent as compared to July, according to figures released Monday by Statistics Canada.

The restaurant and bar sales are not entirely inconsistent with the tourism figures. Total overnight stays were down slightly in August when compared to July.

The picture is rosier when compared to 2015, with both July and August posting gains over last year. Seasonally adjusted sales for July and August combined were up 4.1 per cent.

Food service and bar sales rose over $19 million in September of last year and have not fallen below that level since.

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