Region sees growth in January state sales tax numbers

February 18, 2015

UPPER CUMBERLAND – The Upper Cumberland kept good pace with the rest of Tennessee in terms of January’s state sales tax collection numbers.

The region, according to the report released today by the Upper Cumberland Development District, improved year-over-year by 7.1 percent, just 0.7 percentage points less than the state’s gain of 7.8. Only one county, DeKalb, reported a loss. Collections there were down 12.3 percent.

The UC’s largest collectors, Putnam, Cumberland and Warren counties, saw steady gains. Putnam, which was just shy of $9 million in collections for the month, saw a 4.8 percent increase, while Cumberland and Warren improved 8.0 and 8.1, respectively. Smith County, the region’s fifth largest collector, improved 17.2 percent, and White, ranking fourth, was up 11.2 percent. Overton followed with a similar gain of its own at 15.5 percent.

Some of the region’s smaller counties also saw double-digit jumps, including Cannon (14.6), Clay (28.9), Pickett (30.7) and Van Buren (85.8). Rounding out the UC were Fentress (8.4), Jackson (1.9) and Macon (3.0).

Collections, which are considered just one measure of economic activity, are based on state sales taxes; local option taxes are excluded. Sales data lags by one month; for example, January numbers reflect December activity.

Counties	January	Year prior	Percent change
Cannon	$361,451	$315,364	14.6
Clay	$224,875	$174,520	28.9
Cumberland	$4,477,087	$4,145,248	8.0
DeKalb	$868,187	$989,983	-12.3
Fentress	$765,902	$706,863	8.4
Jackson	$190,839	$187,272	1.9
Macon	$1,051,719	$1,020,649	3.0
Overton	$876,129	$758,634	15.5
Pickett	$157,512	$120,530	30.7
Putnam	$8,997,960	$8,586,183	4.8
Smith	$1,207,790	$1,030,324	17.2
Van Buren	$133,919	$72,071	85.8
Warren	$2,495,228	$2,308,631	8.1
White	$1,378,831	$1,240,187	11.2
UCDD	$23,187,429	$21,656,459	7.1
TN	$801,043,000	$743,107,000	7.8