Every major population centre in the Lakeland saw a decline in the number of businesses operating in them in 2016 from the year before.
Hardest hit was St. Paul, suffering a 9.42 percent drop from 2015.  The town had a net loss of fifty businesses last year, dropping to 481 in total. That’s the lowest number  this decade, although not much lower than the years between 2010 and 12.
Bonnyville had the second steepest decline at 7.03 percent. The 741 businesses operating there are the fewest since 2008. The City of Cold Lake dropped by 5.57 percent, going from 646 businesses to 610. Other regions saw much smaller declines, mostly staying within the general trend of the past few years.
A table of all the areas is below:
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| Area | 2015 | 2016 | % |
| St. Paul | 531 | 481 | -9.42 |
| Lac La Biche County | 410 | 398 | -2.93 |
| Town of Bonnyville | 797 | 741 | -7.03 |
| MD of Bonnyville | 267 | 260 | -2.62 |
| Cold Lake | 646 | 610 | -5.57 |