A measure of sales activity in Grand Junction continues to increase.

The city reported collecting nearly $4.9 million in sales taxes in February. That’s an increase of almost $952,000 and 24.3 percent over the same month last year. The city also received nearly $865,000 as its share of county sales tax collections, a 43.8 percent year-over-year increase.

City use and lodging tax collections also increased in June on a year-over-year basis.

June collections reflect May sales. The increases also reflect in part the effects of the COVID-19 pandemic and related restrictions last year. However, the latest collections also topped those for 2019.

Use tax collections, a smaller and more volatile source of revenue based on activity in the construction and energy sectors, totaled $70,329 in June. That’s an increase of $19,261 and 37.7 percent over the same month last year.

Lodging tax collections, a measure of hotel and motel stays in Grand Junction, totaled almost $202,000 — an increase of 135,200 and 202.5 percent over June 2020.

For the first half of 2021, city sales tax collections climbed to nearly $28 million, a jump of almost $5.5 million and 24.3 percent over the first half of 2020. The city share of county sales tax collections totaled nearly $4.5 million, a gain of more than $719,000 and 19.1 percent over last year.

Use tax collections for the first half of 2021 topped $440,000, a decrease of almost $50,000 and 10.1 percent from the first half of 2020.

City lodging tax collections exceeded $658,000 for the first half of 2021. That was an increase of nearly $224,000 and 51.4 percent over the first half of 2020.