Brian Kroshus

BISMARCK – North Dakota’s taxable sales and purchases for the second quarter of 2025 increased by 3.4% compared to the same period in 2024, Tax Commissioner Brian Kroshus announced this week. For April, May and June of 2025, taxable sales and purchases totaled $7.08 billion, versus $6.85 billion in the prior year.

“While purchasing activity in the second quarter, particularly in the industrial sector, indicates a relatively stable economic environment, tariff-induced buying activity or front-loading by companies in advance of trade agreement deadlines imposed on key U.S. trading partners likely contributed to the year-over-year gain,” Kroshus said in a news release. “The extent to which that occurred, however, won’t be fully known until the latter part of this year and into 2026.”

Notably, utilities and construction rose by 87.1% and 10.5% respectively. Retail trade, the state’s largest revenue category, also posted a positive result, growing by 2.5% compared to the same timeframe in 2024, according to the data report. Arts, entertainment and recreation in tandem with accommodation and food services declined by 2.7% and 2.1% each.

“Overall, the state still experienced moderate growth during a period of significant and arguably, unprecedented economic uncertainty due to tariffs, which is encouraging,” Kroshus said in the release. “However, given the unique set of circumstances, the effect tariff-related influencers had on buying behavior won’t be completely understood until we see a return to more normalized conditions.”

Performance increases of the top growth categories in the second quarter showed:

– Mining and Oil and Gas Extraction, 7.4%

– Utilities, 87.1%

– Construction, 10.5%

– Retail Trade, 2.5%

– Real estate and rental and leasing, 7.7%

Categories posting declines versus prior year during the 2nd quarter were:

– Arts, entertainment and recreation, -2.7%

– Accommodation and food services, -2.1%

– Transportation and warehousing, -9.7%

– Other services (except public administration), -8%

“Regional performance for North Dakota’s largest cities mirrored activity in the industrial space, with western communities including Williston and Dickinson, posting significant gains over the prior year in contrast to their eastern counterparts, Fargo and Grand Forks, which experienced noticeable declines compared to the same period last year,” Kroshus said..

Percentage changes for the second quarter of 2025, compared to the second quarter of 2024, for the largest cities in North Dakota were as follows:

– Williston, increase of 7.9%

– Dickinson, increase of 7.8%

– Bismarck, increase of 5.2%

– Jamestown, increase of 4.1%

– Minot, increase of 2.4%

– Fargo, decrease of 1.5%

– Grand Forks, decrease of 5.7%

Of the 50 largest communities in North Dakota, the highest percentage of increases for the second quarter of 2025, compared to the second quarter of 2024, were as follows:

– Burlington, increase of 75.1%

– Ellendale, increase of 17.5%

– Tioga, increase of 12.4%

– Belfield, increase of 12.3%

– Mayville, increase of 10.5%

Counties with the highest percentage of increases for the second quarter of 2025, compared to the second quarter of 2024, were as follows:

– Burke County, increase of 23.8%

– Bottineau County, increase of 23.3%

– Sioux County, increase of 23.2%

– Bowman County, increase of 17%

– Nelson County, increase of 13.1%