BISMARCK – North Dakota’s taxable sales and purchases for the third quarter of 2024 have remained steady compared to the same period in 2023, Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus announced this week. For July, August and September of 2024, taxable sales and purchases totaled $7.2 billion.

“Consistent with the preceding quarter, there continues to be a leveling off of the state’s economy,” Kroshus said. “Moderating commodity prices compared to last year, at least in part, influenced economic activity in both the agricultural and energy sectors, as reflected in the associated revenue collection figures.”

Notably, nine major industry sectors reported increases in taxable sales and purchases compared to the third quarter of 2023. Significantly, the utilities sector saw a $53 million increase, marking a 67.5% rise. The state’s largest sector, retail trade, showed a slight increase compared to the same period last year, while health care and social assistance posted a modest decrease of 10.4%.

Percent changes for the third quarter of 2024 (compared to the second quarter of 2023) for the four largest cities in North Dakota were:

– Bismarck, decrease of 0.08%

– Fargo, decrease of 3.58%

– Grand Forks, decrease of 0.76%

– Minot, decrease of 5.88%

Of the 50 largest cities in North Dakota, the highest percentage of increases for the third quarter of 2024 (compared to the second quarter of 2023) were:

– Garrison, 34.53%

– Mayville, 25.71%

– Mandan, 22.15%

– Grafton, 18.77%

– Velva, 18.16%

Counties with the highest percentage of increases for the second quarter of 2024 (compared to the second quarter of 2023) were:

– Sioux, 69.89%

– Bowman, 28.86%

– Bottineau, 23.04%

– Morton, 19.90%

– Traill, 17.15%

“While performance in the third quarter remained steady, it’s worth noting that economic activity in North Dakota’s smaller, rural communities outpaced their larger counterparts in the state, an emerging pattern to monitor as we balance the rest of the year,” Kroshus said.