March 22, 2016
Contact: Colene McEntee, Communications Manager, 636-949-1864, cmcentee@sccmo.org
St. Charles County, Missouri – Annual retail sales for 2015 climbed 5.21 percent to hit a new record high of $5,666,398,392 in St. Charles County, up from $5,385,652,114 the previous year, according to figures just released by the St. Charles County Department of Finance.
“At a time when the national economy grew by only 2.4 percent in 2015, driven largely by consumer spending, we are proud of the fact St. Charles County saw 5.21 percent growth in retail sales last year,” said St. Charles County Executive Steve Ehlmann.
Vehicle sales were the largest category of non-perishable goods in last year’s total. It was 15 percent of local expenditures in 2015.
“St. Charles County is synonymous with growth,” Ehlmann said. “Our population continues growing steadily and is fast approaching 400,000. We account for nearly 50 percent of all new housing construction in the St. Louis region. We just set a new all-time high of over $5.6 billion in consumer spending. It’s time our community leaders took a hard look at the incentives we are using to lure developers and retailers who are anxious to make a profit and gain market share in our successful community.”
Long known as a strong opponent of tax increment financing or “TIF” for retail and residential developments, Ehlmann said local TIFs diverted nearly $845,000 away from road and highway projects in the community in 2015. He called on community leaders to work together and use incentives wisely and sparingly to create good-paying jobs.
“Those who shop local are supporting infrastructure improvements, parks and public safety,” he said. “We thank everyone who patronizes the thousands of stores and restaurants in St. Charles County, and there’s more on the way.”
For more information about the local economy and business opportunities, contact the St. Charles County Department of Workforce & Business Development at 636-255-6060 or visit http://www.sccmo.org/Workforce-Business-Development.
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