Surry Business

Taxable retail sales in Surry County fell to $41.1 million in July, according to a new report from the North Carolina Department of Revenue.

Surry County’s taxable retail sales totaled $65.2 million in July 2006 and $48 million in July 2005.

Mount Airy’s taxable retail sales were $22.6 million in July 2007, $37.2 million in July 2006 and $26.8 million in July 2005.

The high numbers from July a year ago may be due to a one-time tax event, but other statistics from the Department of Revenue reinforce the image of eroding retail sales.

June figures for the past three years show a steady decline in Surry County — $53 million in 2007, $55.8 million in 2006, $58.9 million in 2005. Mount Airy’s taxable retail sales fell to $29.6 million this year from $31.9 million in June 2006 and $31 million in June 2005.

The N.C. Department of Revenue cautions that its data are compiled from reports and remittances made by taxpayers and may not be directly comparable to reports for other months. The department’s monthly reports show tax collections for each month based on retail sales in the previous month.

Mount Airy is the only Surry County city large enough (population 5,000 or more) to be included in the department’s month retail sales reports