Retail sales rise in Ste. Genevieve

suntimesnews.com

STE. GENEVIEVE -- Retail sales are up more than 5 1/2 percent in Ste. Genevieve so far this fiscal year, while statewide retail sales are down nearly 4 percent.

That's according to the latest report of sales tax collections reported by City Hall.

So far this year, the city's 1 percent tax has brought in $415,758, an increase of $22,141. Since the sales tax rate is 1 percent, which translates into $41,575,800 in retail sales, an increase of $2.2 million.

Still, four the city's sales tax checks, so far this fiscal year, have been lower than the corresponding month the year before -- while the other five have been increases -- all but one double digit percentage increases from the same month the previous year.

Sales tax checks received in January and March were around 20 percent higher than the checks received in January and March 2001.

The most recent sales tax check, received in June, was about the same as the June 2001 check, $64,581, compared to $64,509.

Observers expect the sales tax check the city will receive this month will be better than last year's July check, thanks to the new Alco Discount Store that opened in May.