Retail sales come out ahead in November

The local economy did better than projected in November, according to a sales tax report released Friday by the city of Aspen.

Retail sales for November were up 4 percent from the same period in 2011. The industries posting the largest gains were general retail, luxury goods and restaurants/bars, which were up 28, 23 and 11 percent respectively. Sports equipment and clothing posted the largest decrease from 2011, with a 12 percent decline.

November generally accounts for around 4 percent of the entire year’s sales and collections. Year-to-date, retail sales are up 7 percent against 2011. Most industries have increased sales since last year, with the exception of luxury goods, automobiles and miscellaneous.

November lodging tax collections were up 13 percent from the same period in 2011; up 14 percent on a year-to-date basis.

Aspen’s portion of Pitkin County’s sales tax for October 2012 was up 1 percent from 2011. Collections for the year are up 6 percent.

Real estate transfer tax collections for December were up more than 200 percent from 2011. Last year’s RETT collections ended the year with four months of sizable increases versus 2011. For the year, collections were up about 25 percent.

November year-to-date retail sales

Category
YTD sales
% change year
% YTD

Accommodations
$116,426,601
10%
25.6%

Restaurants/bars
$85,145,334
4%
18.8%

Sports equipment
$30,517,373
12%
6.7%

Clothing
$40,999,336
7%
9%

Food and drug
$42,056,201
5%
9.3%

Liquor
$7,381,286
6%
1.6%

General retail
$17,681,035
24%
3.9%

Construction
$33,261,305
12%
7.3%

Luxury goods
$20,571,048
(3%)
4.5%

Utilities
$35,090,504
5%
7.7%

Automobile
$11,710,209
(6%)
2.6%

Miscellaneous
$13,109,840
(8%)
2.9%

Total
$453,950,071
7%
100%

November monthly retail sales

Category
Monthly sales
% change year
% monthly

Accommodations
$2,927,619
7%
13.1%

Restaurants/bars
$3,233,567
11%
14.4%

Sports equipment
$1,125,066
(12%)
5%

Clothing
$1,673,143
(2%)
7.5%

Food and drug
$2,428,083
(4%)
10.8%

Liquor
$438,132
7%
2%

General retail
$1,398,402
28%
6.2%

Construction
$3,556,262
6%
15.9%

Luxury goods
$848,970
3%
3.8%

Utilities
$2,921,441
(0%)
13%

Automobile
$1,091,765
(8%)
4.9%

Miscellaneous
$755,441
(1%)
3.4%

Total
$22,397,893
4%
100%

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