And Number Is ... Drum Roll ... Please .... $360 Million ... Rounded, Of Course -- The Bakken, North Dakota, USA

When last reported, back in the October, 2011, time frame, the value of Williston building permits were on track, but still, well below, to hit $300 million for the calendar year.

"Everyone" was projecting $300 million.

The actual number (probably to be revised): $360 million (off by almost 20 percent, even as late as October)

Data points:

• Williston: record $360 million worth of building permits in calendar year 2011 (numbers rounded)
• the amount was more than triple the value issued in 2010 -- I still think of the individual who wrote to tell me the Bakken is no longer exciting; that the Bakken is completely predictable
• $45 million in building permits in 2009
• 3Q11: Williston had nearly $725 million in taxable sales and purchases
• taxable sales in 3Q11 in Williston (pop: 12,000) outstrips Fargo (pop: 100,000) -- population figures in the west entirely unreliable

"Eye-popping" I would say, but then I have a different perspective than some.