UPPER CUMBERLAND – The Upper Cumberland saw a 4.7 percent increase in state sales tax collections in December, according to data recently released by the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
The region also evened up with the state in terms of annual numbers, as both posted a 4.8 percent gain over the latest 12 months.
Several counties had gains in the double digits, including Cannon (11.7), Clay (23.8), Jackson (13.2), Pickett (37.8) and Van Buren (36.2). The region’s four largest collectors, Putnam (5.0), Cumberland (1.5), Warren (4.0) and White (4.6), all saw moderate gains, while Fentress (3.5), Macon (5.0), Overton (9.1) and Smith (5.5) were up as well. Only DeKalb (-1.9) saw a decrease.
Collections, which are considered only one measure of economic activity, are based on state sales taxes; local option taxes are excluded. Sales data lags by one month; for example, December numbers reflect November activity.
| Counties | December | Year prior | Percent change |
| Cannon | $295,120 | $264,159 | 11.7 |
| Clay | $184,534 | $149,066 | 23.8 |
| Cumberland | $3,576,951 | $3,523,021 | 1.5 |
| DeKalb | $703,084 | $716,991 | -1.9 |
| Fentress | $651,675 | $629,602 | 3.5 |
| Jackson | $161,021 | $142,217 | 13.2 |
| Macon | $950,034 | $904,548 | 5.0 |
| Overton | $735,288 | $673,814 | 9.1 |
| Pickett | $168,384 | $122,237 | 37.8 |
| Putnam | $7,739,661 | $7,373,637 | 5.0 |
| Smith | $809,487 | $767,633 | 5.5 |
| Van Buren | $115,907 | $85,096 | 36.2 |
| Warren | $2,035,297 | $1,956,612 | 4.0 |
| White | $1,065,401 | $1,018,496 | 4.6 |
| UC | $19,191,844 | $18,327,129 | 4.7 |
| TN | $611,539,000 | $577,620,000 | 5.9 |
