Rusk, Jacksonville break with statewide trend, post lackluster sales during January

Retail sales slipped in many Cherokee County cities when compared to the same period a year ago.

Cuney's retail sales dropped almost 32 percent, followed by Rusk with a drop of 3.73 percent, Jacksonville, almost half of a percent.

Increases were posted by Alto, 30.63 percent, New Summerfield, 5.97 percent and Wells, 48.34 percent.

Officials with the state comptroller's office say that wide swings in gains and losses in smaller communities are common. With only a handful of retail outlets, if any are late turning in their sales tax reports, the numbers will be skewed for two months.

The county's largest cities, Jacksonville and Rusk, provide a more accurate snapshot of the local economy. Sales tax collected by Cherokee County was up by almost 24 percent.

Statewide, sales tax collected during January and remitted to the State Comptroller in February grew by 5.6 percent, when compared to the same period a year ago.

A total of almost $397 million in sales tax payments were rebated to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts this month.