Aspen retailers combined to generate 3.8 percent more in sales in 2018 over 2019, according to the city Finance Department’s monthly consumption tax report issued last week.<\/p>\n
Led by the accommodations sector, Aspen’s retail industry brought in $760 million last year, the report shows. All of Aspen’s retail segments, other than automobile, posted gains in 2018.<\/p>\n
Here’s a snapshot:<\/p>\n
\u2022 Accommodations \u2014$220.5 million, up 1.7 percent over 2017<\/p>\n
\u2022 Restaurants\/bars \u2014$131.6 million, up 1.4 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Sports equipment\/clothing \u2014 $50.4 million, up 5.1 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Clothing \u2014$60 million, up 4.1 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Food\/drug \u2014 $57.2 million, up 1.9 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Liquor \u2014 $10.7 million, up 2.2 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Miscellaneous \u2014 $62.6 million, up 24.3 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Construction \u2014 $57.9 million, up 0.3 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Luxury goods \u2014 $30.7 million, up 3.9 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Utilities \u2014 $46.1 million, up 6.4 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Automobile \u2014 $20 million, down 3.8 percent<\/p>\n
\u2022 Marijuana \u2014 $11.8 million, up 3.8 percent<\/p>\n
The month of December, in the meantime, essentially mirrored December 2017 in sales, according to the report.<\/p>\n
December accounted for $108.4 million in revenue, 0.1 percent higher than December 2017.<\/p>\n
For all of 2018, the city collected $15.9 million through its 2.1 percent sales tax, slightly above the city’s forecast of $15.6 million for the year.<\/p>\n
The city’s 1.5 percent lodging tax, which benefits Aspen tourism promotion, accounted 2.7 million in revenue last year, up 1 percent over 2017.<\/p>\n
The 0.5 lodging tax reserved for transportation amounted to $913,089 in revenue for the city, a 1 percent improvement over 2017, the report shows.<\/p>\n