Mar 25, 2011

State’s February Retail Sales Up About 10 Percent Over 2010By Howard FischerYumaSun.com

PHOENIX — If sales are any indication of consumer confidence, Arizonans believe that the economy is improving.

New figures Friday from the state Department of Revenue show retail sales reported to the agency in February at nearly $3.52 billion.

Not surprisingly, the figures, which generally represent sales made in January, are down about 29 percent from the prior month. But those figures reflect Christmas season sales.

The better comparison is over the same period a year earlier. And there, the February figures are up about 10 percent.

Among the strong year-over-year changes are sales by motor vehicle dealers, up 28 percent. And there are indications that homeowners are buying things to fix up their properties, with sales of building materials, lawn and garden supplies up almost 40 percent from the same time a year earlier.

Income at hotels and motels, a sign of tourism, also is up 15 percent from 2010 levels.

But Arizonans appear not quite ready to spend a lot more eating out and going out for a few drinks: Sales at bars and restaurants are actually below what they were last year.

And furniture sales, one indication of people moving or buying new homes, remains flat.

Read complete article.