Retail sales in the Yellowhammer State experienced percentage growth that exceeded double digits in the most recent numbers released by the Alabama Department of Revenue.
The Alabama Retail Association sent out a press release in recent days highlighting that consumers spent nearly 11% more with the state’s retailers in April 2019 than the same month in 2018.
This year’s numbers reflect the strongest April on record for Alabama since 2006.
Sales taxes collected in May for April sales jumped to $213,849,912.41 in April 2019 from $192,681,288.61 twelve months prior.
The Alabama Retail Association attributes this impressive increase to strong consumer confidence and a late Easter, as shoppers had more time to spend leading up to the holiday.
Alabama’s growth blew the national May sales tax collections out of the water, even though it was also up approximately 3.2%, which is considered positive in its own right. Retail experts advise that the national growth is consistent with the pace of the American economy and foreshadows continuing strength in the coming months.
Additionally, the Yellowhammer State collected almost $19 million in sales taxes from online-only and remote retailers participating in the simplified sellers use tax program (SSUT) in May for April sales, marking a 201% increase over the same month in 2018.
This added SSUT revenues came, largely, from a change in Alabama state law which required marketplace facilitators to collect and remit sales taxes on behalf of third-party sellers. That change went into effect in January of this year.
Sean Ross is a staff writer for Yellowhammer News. You can follow him on Twitter @sean_yhn
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