ABiz -> Acadiana Business TUE, AUG 14 2:23PM by ABiz Staff

Lafayette set to shatter 2008 retail sales record

Lafayette Parish’s June retail sales of more than $500 million reflect a 12 percent increase over June a year ago, and that activity boosts the year-to-date figure to $2.8 billion, 10.1 percent more than the first six months of 2011.

“June retail sales mark only the third time we’ve seen a $500 million month that was not a December; the previous two times were in March and May of this year,” says Gregg Gothreaux, president and CEO of the Lafayette Economic Development Authority. “With six months of sales recorded, LEDA’s forecasting model shows that we will beat the all-time high of $5.4 billion set in 2008 with total sales approaching the $6 billion mark.” If LEDA's model is accurate, Lafayette Parish would best its record by more than 11 percent.

LEDA also notes that hotel/motel receipts continue to outperform 2011 totals. June receipts totaled $6.7 million, pushing the year-to-date total 14.6 percent higher than the first six months of 2011.

So far this year, general merchandise and services are the top performing categories, with increases of 9.8 percent, 9.4 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively, over 2011 numbers. All other categories show increases over 2011, except furniture, which is down 5 percent.

Related Articles:

Comments (1)

Subscribe to this comment's feed

...
written by Dudley E. LaBauve, III , August 15, 2012 - 05:36 pm

Well then, the city should be looking good for sales tax income, and can drop the tax hike crap.

You must be logged in to post a comment. Log in using your Facebook account or register if you do not have an account yet.

Most Read

Remembering Ricky Rees

The veteran police officer remembered by friends for his large and small acts of kindness will be laid to rest Wednesday.
Zachary Barker takes helm of the Opportunity Machine

Zachary Barker continues making waves in Lafayette’s business scene, mostly recently being named director of the Opportunity Machine.
Shakin' at the Shack

There will soon be a whole lot of shakin’ going on at Benny’s Sportshack Supplement Depot, a new concept by Opelousas native Benny Nele. Located at 2002 Johnston St., the supplement shop, smoothie bar and café, featuring hot off the press paninis and wraps, plans to open in late May.
Lafayette’s ‘sinking ship’ is cash flow positive

“We’ve crossed that magic threshold,” LUS Director Terry Huval says.
Child porn nets deMahy 2 years in prison

Philip deMahy Sr., a once respected New Iberia ad exec, was sentenced May 2 to spend the next two years (he faced up to 100 years) in a state penitentiary after state and federal investigators found dozens of images depicting children engaged in lewd sexual acts on his personal computer.

in case you missed it

COOL TOWN 2013

This year’s Cool Town issue is all about people who are not native to South Louisiana but made a conscious decision to be here, to be among us, to participate in our culture and contribute to it.
A curious compact

A shelved ordinance transferring $200,000 from a northside drainage project to a south Lafayette development may not break any laws, but it stinks to high heaven.
Pooyie 2012

It's good, it's bad and it's just plain crazy.
Saving Saturday Night

An effort to restore a shuttered dancehall and document other vacant or razed honky-tonks could serve as a model for saving an endangered species of entertainment.
Posthaste vs. HART FORTENBERY

Lafayette’s gene pool has been host to a long line of eccentric characters who have blurred the lines between crazy, genius, disturbed and curiously entertaining.