EBR retail spending slows in August
Retail spending slowed in East Baton Rouge Parish in August, rising less than 1 percent after more than a year of healthy gains.
Businesses and consumers spent $646.0 million in August, up only 0.76 percent, according to figures released by the city-parish Finance Department.
The flat month follows a 2012 run in which spending — not including often-volatile vehicle sales — always rose at least 6 percent, spiking as high as 13 percent in May.
Retail spending inside the city limits actually dropped, falling 1 percent to $337.1 million. Outside the city limits, spending rose just under 3 percent to $308.4 million.
As for the city-parish budget, combined tax collections were $13.9 million, up only 0.52 percent.
Retail spending has been buoyed for much of the year by the U.S. Bowling Congress tournament, which ended in July.