Jacksonville's sluggish retail sales continue to hurt the local economy

The long, hot summer caused a chill with retail sales in Jacksonville.

The largest retail center in Cherokee County posted

3.58 percent drop in sales during July, compared to the same time frame a year ago.

Year-to-date, Jacksonville's sales are down 6.62 percent.

Other cities in Cherokee County are posting modest, if not healthy gains. Cuney, for example, is showing an increase of almost 30 percent, year-to-date.

Wells is posting a 20.33 percent gain, followed by Rusk, 10.16 and Alto, 8.41.

It is not uncommon for small cities and communities collecting sales tax to experience wide fluctuations from month to month, a comptroller spokeswoman told the Cherokeean Herald. If a retailer misses a deadline for submitting paperwork, the following month will reflect the added sales volume.

The county sales tax yearto date is also up by almost 12.5 percent.

Statewide, retail sales accounted for $1.85 billion, representing a 12.7 percent increase over the previous year.

State Comptroller Susan Combs reimbursed cities $302.9 million in sales tax allocations.

The October reporting period will reflect purchases made during August. The back-to-school sales tax holiday occurred during that reporting period.