Mid-Year Retail Sales
An analysis of taxable retail sales figures for the first half of 2011 shows a positive trend for a majority of the markets studied in Louisiana. Comparing the first 6 months of 2011 to the first half of 2010, Lafayette Parish showed the biggest increase in retail sales at 11.1%, followed by an 8.1% increase in Jefferson Parish. Rapides, St. Tammany, Orleans, Livingston, Tangipahoa, Caddo, and East Baton Rouge Parishes also showed positive gains ranging from 3.0% to 7.6%. (more…)