BUYING POWER: CAPE GIRARDEAU COUNTY RETAIL SALES TOP $880 MILLION IN 1997

There was good news and bad news on the Cape Girardeau business front last year.

The good news was that more than 200 new businesses opened in Cape Girardeau in 1997.

The bad news?. More 190 businesses closed.

Actual figures show 219 openings, with 199 closings, a net gain of 20 new businesses.

That's a better average than three of the past five years when more closings were reported than openings.

Records from the Cape Girardeau merchants permit office show a combined total of 474 new businesses opened during the years 1993, 1994 and 1995, almost keeping pace with the 489 closings during the same three-year span.

The only other net gain came in 1996, when 168 new business licenses were issued, with 87 closings, for a net gain of 82.

Openings during the past year ranged from two single-owner antique shop operations in downtown Cape Girardeau -- Golden Goose Antiques and Wanda's Antiques -- to retail giant Sam's Club, located in Cape West Business Park, adjacent to its sister retailer, Wal-Mart Supercenter.

In between were several small, medium and large retail operations, ranging from restaurants -- Bob's Fish House, Bruce's Hickory Smoked Barbecue, Circle H BBQ Smokehouse, Jade's Chinese Restaurant and others -- auto dealerships, including Bud Shell Auto World Inc., in Cape West Business Park and McDowell Auto Sales. Also on the retail list were Goody's Family Clothing, Silk Tree Factory, Eddie Bauer's Inc., Dollar Tree, Madder Rose Antique Mall and others.

Some merchant license transactions represented change-of-ownership or address. One of the listings, Pier One Imports, moved from West Park Mall to a free-standing building in the mall perimeter area.

"Retail growth based on sales taxes grew about 4.6 percent in 1996," said Weldon Macke, Cape Girardeau County auditor.

The county received $4.4 million dollars, which reflects about a half percent of total sales.

"That puts the total taxable sales at about $880 million," said Macke.

That total represents an increase over the estimated $850 total sales from 1996, said Macke.

"The Cape Girardeau area has become a great retail area over the past 10 years," said Macke. "The area is a real retail mecca."

Retail growth here has soared by more than 35 percent since 1990.

"And, considering there was no growth during a couple of years, that percentage figure is good," said Macke.

The largest years of growth were in 1994 and 1995.

"We had a growth of more than 10 percent in 1994 (10.7)," said Macke. "And, the following year, 1995, the growth was at 9.2.

Retail growth by year:

1991: No growth over 1990.

1992: 5.1 percent growth.

1993: 7.0 percent growth.

1994: 10.7 percent growth.

1995: 9.2 percent growth.

1996: 1.9 percent decrease.

1997: 4.6 percent growth.

Cape Giardeau County recorded the largest retail sales throughout the Southeast Missouri area. Second on the list of counties was Butler County, which includes Poplar Bluff.

Butler County sales topped the $400 million mark, at $410 million.

Two counties adjoining Cape County -- Perry to the North and Scott to the South -- recorded a combined total of more than $330 million.

Scott County, which includes much of Sikeston's retail community, reported more than $275 million in retail sales. Total sales for the year was not available, but the 11-month total was $276 million.

Perry County, which includes Perryville in its retail area, reported more than $160 million total sales.

Nine-month totals were available in some counties -- $150 million in Dunklin, $15 million in Mississippi, $138 million in New Madrid and $119 million in Stoddard.

Statewide retail totals were not yet available from the Missouri Treasury Department. But, in 1996, more than $44.1 billion in taxable sales was reported, and the 1997 figure is expected be up from three to four percent.

State totals for three quarters were available, at $40.9 billion. The final quarter, which includes the holiday season, could shove the total past last year's figure.

Retailers nationally reported a strong year in 1997, thanks to an increase in the Christmas holiday shopping season.

About two-thirds (67 percent) of retailers surveyed by the American Express Retail Index Recap, felt that the 1997 holiday season was "strong" one compared with the year before.

According to the index, consumers spent an average of $1,002 each during the 1997 holiday season on gifts, travel, entertaining and decoration. This is 19 percent less than consumers' pre-holiday prediction of $1,233. But, spending on gifts was up, with consumers spending an average of $769, up 33 percent from pre-season prediction.