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

The county collected nearly $4.25 million in sales taxes in August. That was an increase of almost $56,000 and  1.3 percent over the same month a year ago. August collections reflect July sales.

The county collected nearly $2.5 million in taxes on retail sales, a 2 percent increase over the same month last year. Increased tax collections on the sales of general merchandise, clothing and health and personal care items more than offset decreases in collections on the sales of automobiles, home improvements and sporting goods.

The county collected almost $1.8 million in taxes on sales in other industries, up four-tenths of a percent from August 2023. Increases in the hotel and restaurant, manufacturing and construction sectors more than offset a decrease in the wholesale category.

Through the first eight months of 2024, Mesa County collected more than $33.1 million in sales taxes. That’s an increase of 2 percent over the same span in 2023.

Tax collections on retail sales rose 2.4 percent to top $19.3 million with the biggest gains in general merchandise, clothing and home improvements.

Tax collections from other industries exceeded $13.8 million, a 1.5 percent year-over-year increase, with the biggest gains in the hotel and restaurant, rentals and professional sectors.

Mesa County collected another $12.6 million in sales taxes it distributed back to cities and towns in the county, including $7.3 million to Grand Junction, $2.3 million to Fruita, $1.6 million to Palisade and $686,000 each to Collbran and De Beque.

Use tax collections — almost all of them on automobiles purchased outside the county, but used inside the county — totaled $430,265 in August and more than $3.1 million through the first eight months of 2024. Those are increases of 19.1 percent and 7.8 percent, respectively, over the same spans in 2023.