In April, accommodation receipts in Cochise County totaled $4.2 million, up 32.3 percent when compared to April 2006. This reflects inflation-adjusted growth of 29.8 percent. Inflation in the preceding 12 months was 2.6 percent, as measured by changes in the Consumer Price Index.

Accommodation includes hotel, motel, and other temporary lodging. Cochise County's accommodation industry has seen double-digit sales growth each month of 2007, when compared to the same period of 2006. Interestingly, this has occurred at a time when visits to state and national parks in the county have declined. From January through April, park visits dropped by 4.4 percent compared to the same period last year. This indicates a greater number of business rather than leisure travelers to the area.

In April, retail sales in Cochise County totaled $64 million, down 1.2 percent when compared to April 2006. This reflects inflation-adjusted growth of -3.7 percent. Countywide retail sales have alternated between periods of positive and negative growth in 2007. On the whole, retail sales were up 4.4 percent from January through April, when compared to the same period last year.

Cochise County's restaurant and bar sales totaled $10.7 million in April, up 7.7 percent from April 2006. This reflects inflation-adjusted growth of 5.2 percent. In the first 4 months of the year, the county's restaurant and bars sales were up 9.2 percent compared to the same period last year.

At the city level, Benson's retail sales in April totaled $5.7 million, up 34 percent from a year prior, for inflation-adjusted growth of 31.4 percent. The surge is due primarily to the opening of the new Wal-Mart Supercenter in November of last year.

Restaurant and bar receipts in Benson totaled $953,000 in April, a 5.8 percent increase from a year prior. This reflects inflation-adjusted growth of 3.2 percent. Benson's accommodation receipts totaled $416,000, up 26.8 percent in the April comparisons, for inflation-adjusted growth of 24.3 percent.

In Bisbee, retail sales in April came in at $2.7 million. This was up 3.8 percent from a year prior, for inflation-adjusted growth of 1.2 percent. Bisbee's restaurant and bar sales in April were down 22.8 percent to $675,000. This is a decrease of 25.4 percent, after adjusting for inflation.

Bisbee's accommodation receipts increased to $247,000, up 59.7 percent in the April comparisons, showing inflation-adjusted growth of 57.1 percent. This is the fourth consecutive month of strong growth in Bisbee's accommodation sales, following poor performance last year. In 2006, Bisbee's accommodation sales were down by more than 40 percent. Much of the increase this year represents a recovery from last year's poor performance of this sector.

In Douglas, retail sales came in at $11.6 million, down 0.8 percent in the April comparisons, for inflation-adjusted growth of -3.3 percent. Retail sales in Douglas have alternated between periods of positive and negative growth this year. On the whole, retails sales in Douglas were up 6 percent in the first 4 months of this year, compared to the same period last year.

Douglas' restaurant and bar sales fell to $1.1 million, down 12.9 percent in the April comparisons. Adjusting for inflation, this reflects a 15.5 percent decrease. This follows two consecutive months of strong growth in this sector. On the whole, Douglas' restaurant and bar sales for the first 4 months of the year were up 5 percent compared to last year. Accommodation receipts are not reported for Douglas due to the small number of establishments and Arizona Department of Revenue's confidentiality policy.

In Huachuca City, retail sales totaled $527,000 in April, up 17.4 percent from a year prior, showing inflation-adjusted growth of 14.8 percent. For the first 4 months of the year, Huachuca City's retail sales were down 8.5 percent compared to the first 4 months of 2006. Restaurant and bar sales and accommodation receipts are not reported for Huachuca City due to the small number of establishments and ADOR's confidentiality policy.

In Sierra Vista, retail sales came in at $43.6 million. This was up 5.2 percent in the April comparisons, reflecting inflation-adjusted growth of 2.6 percent. Sierra Vista's restaurant and bar sales in April climbed to $5.6 million. This reflects an increase of 18.7 percent from a year prior, for inflation-adjusted growth of 16.2 percent.

Sierra Vista's accommodation sales increased to $1.7 million, up 30.3 percent for inflation-adjusted growth of 27.8 percent. Part of the strong growth in Sierra Vista's accommodation receipts is attributable to the opening of new hotels, which reduces leakage of potential business to surrounding areas. But the trend in Sierra Vista also follows that seen at the county level, which cannot be explained by a mere shifting of market share among different areas of the county.

In Tombstone, retail sales were down 6.9 percent to $955,000, an inflation-adjusted decrease of 9.5 percent. This follows a brief rebound in March after negative growth in the first two months of the year.

For the first 4 months of the year, Tombstone's retail sales were down 0.3 percent compared to the same period last year.

Tombstone's restaurant and bar sales in April totaled $834,000. This is a 21.3 percent increase from a year prior, for inflation-adjusted growth of 18.7 percent. Accommodation receipts in Tombstone increased to $222,000, up 8.2 percent for inflation-adjusted growth of 5.6 percent.

In Willcox, retail sales totaled $2.9 million in April, down 4 percent for inflation adjusted growth of -6.6 percent. Restaurant and bar sales totaled $696,000, up 8.6 percent from a year prior, for inflation-adjusted growth of 6 percent. Accommodation receipts in Willcox climbed to $510,000, up 59 percent in the April comparisons. This reflects inflation-adjusted growth of 56.4 percent.

If you have any questions on the economy, please contact the Cochise College Center for Economic Research at (520) 515-5486 or email us at cer@cochise.edu. Be sure to check out the CER's website at www.cochise.edu/cer.

COCHISE COUNTY SALES ESTIMATES - APRIL

Apr 07 Apr 06 Percent Change Inflation-

Adjusted Growth*

Cochise County

Retail $63,979,850 $64,737,000 -1.2% -3.7%

Restaurant & Bar $10,692,636 $9,924,339 7.7% 5.2%

Accommodation $4,211,681 $3,182,281 32.3% 29.8%

Benson

Retail $5,694,120 $4,249,480 34.0% 31.4%

Restaurant & Bar $953,320 $901,200 5.8% 3.2%

Accommodation $415,556 $327,600 26.8% 24.3%

Bisbee

Retail $2,674,400 $2,576,160 3.8% 1.2%

Restaurant & Bar $674,520 $873,920 -22.8% -25.4%

Accommodation $246,580 $154,380 59.7% 57.1%

Douglas

Retail $11,550,000 $11,638,680 -0.8% -3.3%

Restaurant & Bar $1,092,680 $1,254,840 -12.9% -15.5%

Huachuca City

Retail $526,867 $448,933 17.4% 14.8%

Sierra Vista

Retail $43,558,457 $41,407,938 5.2% 2.6%

Restaurant & Bar $5,635,885 $4,746,885 18.7% 16.2%

Accommodation $1,671,836 $1,282,782 30.3% 27.8%

Tombstone

Retail $955,120 $1,026,120 -6.9% -9.5%

Restaurant & Bar $834,240 $687,760 21.3% 18.7%

Accommodation $221,764 $205,036 8.2% 5.6%

Willcox

Retail $2,852,400 $2,971,533 -4.0% -6.6%

Restaurant & Bar $696,167 $640,967 8.6% 6.0%

Accommodation $509,800 $320,700 59.0% 56.4%

* Inflation rate determined by April 2006 to April 2007 change in the Consumer Price Index, which was 2.6 percent

Note. Discrepancies due to rounding

Source: Arizona Department of Revenue and Cochise College Center for Economic Research. Figures shown are estimates, based on transaction privilege tax collections.