GLENWOOD SPRINGS — After a shaky few months this spring, retail sales in the city of Glenwood Springs were running a little more than 1.5 percent ahead of 2012 through six months of the year, according to the city’s latest sales tax report.

As of June 30, the city had collected nearly $6.7 million in sales taxes for the year, representing about $181 million in total retail sales in the city through six months. Retail businesses in the city generated about $380 million in sales for all of 2012.

June sales came in at about $38 million, up 2.4 percent over June 2012, according to the monthly sales tax report issued by the Glenwood Springs Finance Department.

Based on the city’s sales tax rate of 3.7 percent, that brought in nearly $1.4 million in sales taxes for the month.

Year to date through six months, retail sales are running 1.57 percent ahead of last year’s totals for the same period.

The increase in sales represents a summertime turn-around for the city, which had recorded three straight months of negative sales in February, March and April, compared to the same months last year, before things turned around in May and June.

May sales were up more than 5 percent over the same month last year.

While general merchandise sales within the city are running about 3 percent below last year’s figures through mid-year, sales are up a little more than 2 percent for restaurants and bars, 5.3 percent for apparel/accessories, 7.4 percent for building materials and supplies, and 8.2 percent for automotive service stations.

Stabilizing some during June were lodging stays in Glenwood Springs, based on the city’s accommodations tax report for the same six-month period.

The city’s 2.5 percent lodging tax on overnight stays generated $89,032 for the month of June, up 1.2 percent compared to the same month last year. Lodging proceeds were up 10.5 percent in May, however, and remain 4.1 percent ahead of 2012 through mid-year, according to the report.

jstroud@postindependent.com