EBR retail spending posts smallest rise of 2012 in August

Sales tax collections inside the Baton Rouge city limits posted a year-over-year decline during August for the first time in 2012, down 1.86% compared to last August, according to a new report from the city-parish Finance Department. Collections outside the limits, however, were up enough—3.21%—to make up for the interior decline and put combined collections up 0.52% compared to August 2011. Collectively, the city and parish netted $13.9 million in August, or about $72,000 more than during August 2011. It’s the lowest combined increase in collections yet this year. The next-lowest increase came in January, when collections were up 6.8%, or about $832,000, compared to the same month a year earlier. In every other month this year, increases have exceeded 7%. The best month thus far in 2012 has been May, when collections in the city-parish were up 13.6%, or $1.8 million. Year-to-date, combined collections stand at $114.4 million through August, up about 8% over the roughly $106 million collected through the first eight months of last year. You can take a look at the complete sales tax report here.