If you got a print copy of this week's Southern Business Journal, there is an interesting chart on page 10 showing retail sales from the Illinois Department of Revenue for 20 major cities in the southern Illinois region south of I64. The chart tracks retail sales from 2008 to 2012. The interesting thing about the chart is that sales for all twenty cities trend up from 2008 to 201, then all but 3 show a drop in sales from 2011 to 2012. It's not a huge drop, except for West Frankfort, which saw a 42% drop, and it is likely just a blip on the sales radar, but still, it is striking to see such a consistent dip across so many communities, with the only ones showing a sales uptick were DuQuoin, Jonesboro and Redbud.
What puzzles me is that I can't think of any reason for so many communities to show a drop last year, given that the economy is still improving, albiet slowly, and nothing, to my knowledge, happened in the area or state to cause the drop. Any comments?
What puzzles me is that I can't think of any reason for so many communities to show a drop last year, given that the economy is still improving, albiet slowly, and nothing, to my knowledge, happened in the area or state to cause the drop. Any comments?
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