It’s a mixed report card on the economy of South Grey and Bruce counties.
Saugeen Economic Development Corporation officer Bill Lang says the fourth quarter in the area saw good news in the real estate and construction areas.
However, at the same time unemployment and social assistance both went up.
A number of municipalities are covered by the economic snapshot — including Arran Elderslie, Brockton, Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Hanover, South Bruce, Wellington North and West Grey.
Lang says unemployment jumped 110 per cent from a year ago and social assistance cases were up 14 per cent from late 2008.
Meanwhile, real estate sales in the fourth quarter in the Saugeen economic development area rose to nearly 119 million dollars or double the pace of sales the year before.
The average price for a home sold in the area hit 215 thousand dollars which is 9.9 per cent higher than in the 4th quarter of 2008.
Building permits fell slightly in the later part of 2009 but for all of 2009 they were up by 14 per cent.