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The number and pace of business closings are growing amid Calgary’s struggling economy, say city statistics and those watching the trend.

In the first seven months of this year, the number of closures recorded by city licensing officials was 4,114, a pace that, if continued, would total nearly 7,100 by the end of 2016.

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That would compare to 5,865 recorded in 2014 and 6,680 last year.

And that trend is picking up steam this year, with 1,761 in the first quarter of 2016 and another 2,043 in the three months that followed.

Photo by Ted Rhodes / Calgary Herald

One of those to be recorded in the next set of city data will be Red Tree Catering, which shut its doors a week ago after 20 years in business. General manager Joanna Forde blames a growing, relentless uncertainty spawned by nearly two years of slumping energy prices.

“We’ve been through recessions and could probably live through this one, but this one is harder and tougher than the others,” said Forde, adding tax and cost hikes added to the burden.