News Release

FREDERICTON (CNB) – An economic annual report, The New Brunswick Economy: 2010 in Review, has been posted on the department's web page, Finance Minister Blaine Higgs announced today.

The report examines a series of economic indicators and data in the province, and in many cases compares them to Canadian averages.

Some of the highlights from the report include:

●    renewed economic strength in Canada and south of the border helped New Brunswick pull out of the recession in 2010;
●    while the provincial economy returned to growth, the labour market suffered some challenges;
●    New Brunswick led the country in export and manufacturing sales growth in 2010;
●    retail trade surpassed $10.5 billion, a 4.9 per cent increase over the 2009 level; and
●    the provincial population grew by 0.3 per cent in 2010, the same rate of growth as 2009.

Higgs said the report is important to the department and that the data outlined in the report can benefit many.

"The report is an excellent reference on a wide-range of economic conditions in our province,” he said. “More importantly, it clearly shows the different areas which we must focus upon, and improve, in the years ahead.”

LINK:

●    The New Brunswick Economy: 2010 in Review: www.gnb.ca/finance