The Charlottesville Regional Chamber of Commerce reports that area retail sales are slightly up for the first three quarters of this year compared to the same time last year.
Albemarle County saw a 3.4 percent increase, much improved from the 9 percent decrease registered last year, compared to the same period in 2008.
In Charlottesville, however, retail sales to date are down 1.86 percent compared to 2009. As in the county, last year’s numbers compared to 2008 were down 7.29 percent.
But there is some positive news. In September, county retail sales showed a 4.02 increase compared to last year.
More importantly, the city and the county combined accounted for $1.5 billion in total retail sales, an increase of $16.8 million over the same period last year.
Augusta County sales were up by 8.7 percent and Louisa saw the biggest jump at $31.4 percent. Sales-year-to-date fell in Greene County by 0.48 percent and in the City of Waynesboro by 7.52 percent.