Sales tax collections, one measure of retail activity, edged upward in Mesa County on a year-over-year basis.

The county collected more than $4.3 million in sales taxes in June. That’s an increase of almost $4,000 and a tenth of a percent over the same month a year ago. June collections reflect May sales.

Tax collections on retail sales topped $2.5 million in June 2024, an increase of 2.4 percent over the same month in 2023. Increases in tax collections on the sales of clothing, home improvements and general merchandise bolstered the gain.

Mesa County collected more than $1.8 million in taxes on sales in other industries in June, a 2.9 percent decline over the same month a year ago. Decreased collections in the manufacturing, oil and natural gas and wholesale sectors more than offset increased collections in the hotel and restaurant, medical and utilities sectors.

Through the first half of 2024, the county collected nearly $24.5 million in sales taxes, an increase of more than $603,000 and 2.5 percent over the same span in 2023.

Mesa County collected a total of almost $9.3 million in sales taxes it distributed back to cities and towns in the county, including nearly $5.4 million to Grand Junction, almost $1.7 million to Fruita, $1.1 million to Palisade and $506,218 each to Collbran and De Beque.

Year-to-date tax collections on retail sales rose 2.8 percent to top $14.3 million. Increased collections on the sale of clothing, home improvements and general merchandise more than offset decreased collections on automobiles and sporting goods.

Year-to-date tax collections on sales in other industries exceeded $10.1 million, a 2.1 percent gain. Increased collections on sales in the hotel and restaurant, medical and rental sectors more than offset decreased collections on the construction, oil and natural gas and wholesale sectors.

Use tax collections — nearly all of them collected on the sales of automobiles purchased outside the county, but used in the county — totaled $389,142 in June. That was a 13.1 percent drop compared to the same month a year ago.

Through the first half of 2024, use tax collections totaled almost $2.3 million, a 4.1 percent increase over the same span in 2023.