Retail sales prove strong tourist season
Lodging sales during the month of July rose by double digits, providing more evidence that the state had a strong tourist season.
Total taxable retail lodging sales in July were $133.4 million, a 13.4% jumped compared with the same month last year, according to data from the Maine State Planning Office. Restaurant sales also increased by 5.9%. Retail sales in all categories totaled $1.58 billion in July, a 1.9% increase over July 2009. All categories saw increases except building supply sales, which fell 4.5%, and auto and transportation, which inched down 0.3%. Sales for the period from January to July are 3.3% higher this year than the same time period one year ago, according to the SPO.
An increase in retail sales taxes helped to push the state's General Fund collections $22.5 million, or 8.2%, over estimates, according to The Associated Press. Maine Revenue Service officials told the state's appropriations committee yesterday that sales and use tax receipts were over budget by $4 million in August. Revenue figures for August reflect actual July sales.
Go to the article from The AP >>
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