Economic activity -- as measured by taxable sales and purchases during the first three months of the year -- was something of a mixed bag for North Dakota.

A first-quarter report issued by state Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger indicates that while statewide sales and purchases rebounded by nearly 10 percent statewide, Wishek, Ashley and many other cities experienced declines.

Rauschenberger says taxable sales and purchases for January, February and March 2018 in the state were nearly $4.1 billion, a 9.55 percent increase over those months in 2017.