Florida Consumers Buying more than One Year Ago

Taxable sales increased 6.6 percent statewide in July 2012, from the previous July one year ago, and were up every month in every part of the state, state officials announced this week.

In the state report on monthly taxable sales released by the Office of Economic and Demographic Research, officials said some of the biggest increases in taxable sales were in Miami and the Winter Haven-Lakeland areas, which could mean those areas are recovering stronger than the state as a whole. Both areas saw year-to-year jumps of more than 8 percent in the value of taxable goods purchased.

Also good news for the economy: sales in the building category were the most robust, nearly 11 percent higher than a year ago in July, the report said.

Floridians were making a number of big purchases in July, according to the report: taxable sales in the autos and accessories category were just under 10 percent higher than a year ago. 

Read the report: http://edr.state.fl.us/Content/revenues/reports/taxable-sales-and-index-of-regional-economic-activity/regionalsales1207.pdf