By Amye Anderson
UCBJ Managing Editor
UPPER CUMBERLAND – It was another lackluster month of sales tax collections reported across the Upper Cumberland. Many UC counties reported little change for the month of January compared to the same time period in 2017.
Only six of the region’s 14 counties reported an increase in percentage gains compared to the previous year Pickett (20.7) lead the region in largest reported sales tax collection gains, followed by Overton (5.1), Macon (0.9), Smith (0.7), and Warren (0.1).
Meanwhile the remaining UC counties reported a dip in collections – Van Buren (-17.4) reported the largest decrease, followed by Jackson (-11.2), DeKalb (-10.0), Clay (-7.6), Fentress (-6.9), White (-3.9), Cumberland (-2.9), and Putnam (-1.1).
Overall, the region reported a dip in sales tax collections, -1.7 percent; compared to the state’s reported 1.0 percent gain over January 2016.
Collections, considered just one measure of economic activity, are based on state sales taxes; local option taxes are excluded. Data lags by one month; for example, January numbers reflect December activity.
| Counties | Latest Month | Year Prior | Percent Change |
| Cannon | $407,980 | $401,378 | 1.6 |
| Clay | $217,556 | $235,357 | -7.6 |
| Cumberland | $4,712,534 | $4,852,080 | -2.9 |
| DeKalb | $997,270 | $1,107,862 | -10.0 |
| Fentress | $800,318 | $860,063 | -6.9 |
| Jackson | $172,241 | $193,975 | -11.2 |
| Macon | $1,209,227 | $1,198,917 | 0.9 |
| Overton | $977,435 | $930,265 | 5.1 |
| Pickett | $224,270 | $185,882 | 20.7 |
| Putnam | $9,917,715 | $10,023,159 | -1.1 |
| Smith | $1,084,871 | $1,077,066 | 0.7 |
| Van Buren | $85,513 | $103,473 | -17.4 |
| Warren | $2,569,858 | $2,568,111 | 0.1 |
| White | $1,609,036 | $1,673,471 | -3.9 |
| UC | $24,985,824 | $25,411,059 | -1.7 |
| TN | $913,865,000 | $904,861,000 | 1.0 |
Source: Compiled by the Upper Cumberland Development District from data published by the Tennessee Department of Revenue.
