April retail sales for Glenwood Springs up 6.5 percent

City of Glenwood Springs retail sales were up 6.5 percent in April compared with the same month last year, bringing sales for the year to date to a 2.3 percent increase over 2013, according to the latest sales tax figures from the city.

Sales for the fourth month of this year came in at about $28.7 million, based on city sales taxes reported for April totaling $1,063,325.

City accommodations tax receipts were also up nearly 17.5 percent for the month compared to April 2013, and through four months this year are up 13.1 percent.

A 10.5 percent increase this year in sales of building materials and supplies continues to help drive the overall increase in retail sales. Sales are also up for automotive/service stations (6.7 percent), miscellaneous retail (2.9 percent), food stores (2.6 percent) and eating and drinking establishments (2.3 percent).

However, sales remain down 4.3 percent for the largest retail sector, general merchandise stores, continuing a two-year downward trend.