ASPEN — — Aspen realized its best May sales since 2008, according to the city’s monthly consumption tax report.
The city recently recorded May 2012 retail sales of $17.7 million, a 7.8 percent increase compared with the same month last year. Year-to-date sales continue to pace well, having risen to $221.9 million in the recent January-to-May period, an 8.1 percent increase over the $205.3 million reported for the same five months last year.
While sales tracked upward in May, the month is one of the slowest of the year for Aspen retailers, restaurants and lodges.
“May generally accounts for less than 4 percent of the entire year’s sales and collections,” the report from Aspen Finance Director Don Taylor states.
While Taylor’s report makes no mention of the reasons behind the positive May numbers, the accommodations category, representing hotels and lodges, was 24.6 percent higher, climbing from $1.6 million in May 2011 to $2 million two months ago.
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