Cochise County’s restaurant and bar sales were up 9.4 percent in February, following disappointing performance in January. Sales in the county’s restaurant and bar industry were up in 2 of the most recent 3 months, following 6 consecutive months of decline.
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Despite positive signs from the county’s accommodation and restaurant and bar sales, February was another disappointing month for retail sales across Cochise County. Retail sales fell by 15.5 percent after adjusting for inflation. Part of the reason for the steep decline is that February sales figures are compared to sales from February last year, which was the only month of positive growth in the county’s retail sales since the recession began in late 2007. February 2009 was the 12th consecutive month of declining sales. Sales have declined in 15 of the past 16 months.
At the city level, restaurant and bar receipts in Benson were up 26.4 percent in February, following a 30.3 percent decline in January. Sales have shown positive growth in 4 of the past 6 months, following 7 straight months of decline.
Benson’s accommodation receipts in February were down 3.9 percent, following a drop of 26.0 percent in January. February was the fourth consecutive month of decline.
Retail sales are not reported for Benson due to the city’s two-tiered tax system, which precludes accurately estimating sales based on tax collections. Retail sales tax revenue, however, was down 11.3 percent (unadjusted) in the February comparisons.
In Bisbee, retail sales in February were down 8.9 percent, following a 14.3 percent decline in January. Sales were down in 6 of the most recent 7 months.
Bisbee’s restaurant and bar sales in February were down 2.8 percent, following a 6.4 percent increase in January. Sales were down each month for the first 8 months of last year, but then were up in 4 of the 6 months from September through February.
Bisbee’s accommodation receipts were down 30.7 percent in February, following a 42.3 percent decline in January. February was the fifth consecutive month of decline, following relatively strong growth in the first three quarters of last year.
In Douglas, restaurant and bar sales were down 7.7 percent in February, following a 2.9 percent increase in January. Restaurant and bar sales in Douglas were down in 17 of the past 20 months.
Retail sales are not reported for Douglas due to the city’s two-tiered tax system. Retail sales tax revenue, however, was down 2.4 percent (unadjusted) in the February comparisons. The decline would have been much steeper if not for the city’s general sales tax increase from 2.5 to 2.8 percent, which took effect Sep. 1 last year.
Accommodation sales are not reported for Douglas due to the small number of establishments and the Arizona Department of Revenue’s confidentiality policy.
In Huachuca City, retail sales were down 42.9 percent in February. This was the 12th consecutive month of decline. Retail sales in the town were down in 17 of the past 18 months. Accommodation and restaurant and bar sales are not reported for Huachuca City due to the small number of establishments and ADOR’s confidentiality policy.
In Sierra Vista, retail sales were down 10.4 percent in February, after inflation. This was the 11th consecutive month of decline.
Sierra Vista’s restaurant and bar sales were down 5.4 percent in February. The city’s restaurant and bar sales have been down in 7 of the past 9 months.
Sierra Vista’s accommodation sales were up 34.8 percent in February. The strong growth in 2008 and continuing into 2009 is attributable to the opening of several new hotels in the city, which reduces business leakage to surrounding communities.
In Tombstone, retail sales were down 11.5 percent in February. Sales have been down in 8 of the past 9 months.
Tombstone’s restaurant and bar sales were down 21.6 percent. Sales were down in 9 of the 11 months from April last year through February this year, following strong performance in the first quarter of last year.
Accommodation receipts in Tombstone were up 17.5 percent in February, following a 41.2 percent decline in January. Accommodation sales in the city have been up in 3 of the most recent 5 months.
In Willcox, restaurant and bar sales were up 17.7 percent in February, following a 5.4 percent decline in January. Last year, monthly sales alternated between periods of positive and negative growth.
Accommodation receipts in Willcox were down 1.9 percent in February, after adjusting for inflation. Sales have been down in 11 of the past 12 months.
Retail sales are not reported for Willcox due to the city’s two-tiered tax system. Unadjusted retail sales tax revenue, however, was up 13.8 percent in the February comparisons.
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
February 2009
February 2008
% Change
Inflation-adjusted Growth*
YTD 2009
YTD 2008
YTD % Change
YTD Inflation-adjusted Growth*
Cochise County
Retail
$55,934,069
$66,007,219
-15.3%
-15.5%
$110,017,468
$123,879,391
-11.2%
-11.3%
Restaurant & Bar
$11,285,972
$10,295,172
9.6%
9.4%
$22,284,850
$23,953,194
-7.0%
-7.1%
Accommodation
$4,317,777
$4,002,973
7.9%
7.6%
$7,534,206
$7,504,883
0.4%
0.3%
Benson
Restaurant & Bar
$973,480
$768,880
26.6%
26.4%
$1,942,000
$2,158,800
-10.0%
-10.2%
Accommodation
$604,133
$627,089
-3.7%
-3.9%
$1,015,867
$1,183,444
-14.2%
-14.3%
Bisbee
Retail
$2,555,920
$2,799,680
-8.7%
-8.9%
$4,995,920
$5,645,360
-11.5%
-11.6%
Restaurant & Bar
$636,720
$653,520
-2.6%
-2.8%
$1,231,920
$1,212,760
1.6%
1.4%
Accommodation
$222,400
$320,000
-30.5%
-30.7%
$338,680
$521,420
-35.0%
-35.2%
Douglas
Restaurant & Bar
$971,893
$1,049,920
-7.4%
-7.7%
$1,930,429
$1,981,440
-2.6%
-2.7%
Huachuca City
Retail
$310,200
$540,600
-42.6%
-42.9%
$611,400
$974,800
-37.3%
-37.4%
Sierra Vista
Retail
$37,594,114
$41,832,743
-10.1%
-10.4%
$73,891,771
$80,813,886
-8.6%
-8.7%
Restaurant & Bar
$5,344,231
$5,633,385
-5.1%
-5.4%
$10,712,115
$11,016,269
-2.8%
-2.9%
Accommodation
$1,924,764
$1,425,055
35.1%
34.8%
$3,469,600
$2,846,764
21.9%
21.7%
Tombstone
Retail
$823,960
$928,720
-11.3%
-11.5%
$1,519,920
$1,632,400
-6.9%
-7.0%
Restaurant & Bar
$699,840
$890,040
-21.4%
-21.6%
$1,213,040
$1,461,160
-17.0%
-17.1%
Accommodation
$332,945
$282,673
17.8%
17.5%
$491,109
$551,727
-11.0%
-11.1%
Willcox
Restaurant & Bar
$723,833
$613,767
17.9%
17.7%
$1,395,800
$1,323,867
5.4%
5.3%
Accommodation
$398,971
$405,914
-1.7%
-1.9%
$804,657
$853,929
-5.8%
-5.9%
YTD = Year to Date
* Inflation rate determined by change in the Consumer Price Index.
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.
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