Aspen retailers, lodges and restaurants kicked off the first month of 2019 by generating a combined revenue of $88.1 million, pacing 2.6 percent ahead of January 2018, according to the city’s monthly consumption tax report issued Thursday.
Posting the biggest revenue increases were the sports equipment/clothing sector (9.3 percent), the legal marijuana trade (6.4 percent) and accommodations (6.2 percent). The largest sales declines came in construction (down 16 percent), automobile (down 6.9 percent) and clothing (down 5.6 percent) sectors.
The report accounted for 1,204 Aspen businesses, which together paid the city $1.9 million in sales taxes in January, up 3.9 percent over January 2018.
January accounts for roughly 11.6 percent of the city’s total sales tax collections, according to the report.
The city’s 2 percent lodging tax also posted revenue gains in January.
The 1.5 percent portion of the lodging tax, aimed at tourism promotion, generated $435,181, 5.9 percent ahead of January 2018; the 0.5 percent portion, designated for public transportation, drew $145,061, up 5.5 percent, the report shows.