It appears Albertans are eating out more, but the industry isn’t getting too excited about numbers out this week.

Statistics Canada says sales in the province improved 1.4 per cent in August from July.

However, Joyce Reynolds with Restaurants Canada tells 660 NEWS, they’re only 0.2 per cent higher than the same month last year.

She says any gains are being eaten away by higher costs.

“Restaurant operators in Alberta have been faced with huge increases in labour costs, as well as food costs, as well as taxes on alcoholic beverages,” Reynolds said.

In Restaurants Canada’s own quarterly survey, 87 per cent of Alberta respondents say the struggling economy is having a negative impact on their business.