EBR retail spending rises 7.9%

Retail spending in East Baton Rouge Parish rose by 7.9 percent in July from a year ago, according to figures released Thursday by the city-parish Finance Department.

Consumers and businesses spent nearly $637.6 million that month, compared with almost $591 million in July 2011.

The figures do not include vehicle sales, which are often volatile.

July was the last month the U.S. Bowling Congress was in Baton Rouge.

The organization held a five-month tournament at the RiverCenter that was a boon for downtown hotels, casinos and restaurants.

The week-long International Planetarium Society Conference, which attracted more than 650 attendees to the Louisiana Art & Science Museum, was also held in July.

For the first seven months of the year, retail spending was up 8.6 percent from 2011 to $4.6 billion.

Outside the city limits, spending was up 10.4 percent for July, to $303.3 million, and 12.5 percent for the first seven months of the year, to nearly $2.2 billion.

The spending increase was smaller inside the city limits, where there was a 5.7 percent increase, bringing the amount to $334.3 million. Through July, spending was up 5.3 percent inside the city limits, to $2.4 billion.

Total tax collections for the city-parish, which include vehicle sales, were up 8.2 percent for July, to nearly $13.9 million.

Total collections are up 9 percent for the year, to $100.5 million.