It’s a mixed report card on the economy of South Grey and Bruce counties.
Saugeen Economic Development Corporation Officer Bill Lang says the third quarter in the area saw good news in the housing sector and construction area.
At the same time, employment fell, and unemployment and social assistance both went up.
A number of municipalities are covered by the economic snap-shot including Arran Elderslie, Brockton, Chatsworth, Grey Highlands, Hanover, South Bruce, Wellington North and West Grey.
Lang says unemployment at the end of July was more than double the level of a year ago.
In the third quarter, social assistance jumped 24 per cent.
On the more positive side, real estate sales were one per cent higher than in the third quarter of 2008, at 170 million dollars.
Building permits jumped by 66 per cent and even without the new arena in Hanover, construction was up neary 30 per cent in the Saugeen Economic Development area during the third quarter of 2009.