HARLINGEN — Harlingen continued its dominating run of strong retail sales numbers for October, posting a 14.57 percent gain over the previous year in state sales tax allocations.
It is the second straight month the city has improved by double digits for monthly sales tax, an unusual occurrence for the state’s bigger cities. For the entire year, the city is up 6.42 percent.
Elsewhere in Cameron County, each of the larger cities posted gains over October 2016.
San Benito was up 7.70 percent for the month (4.57 percent for the year), South Padre Island was up 3.01 percent (up 5.48 percent for the year), Rio Hondo was up 13.33 percent (up 0.04 percent for the year), Brownsville was up 1.73 percent (down 1.49 percent for the year), La Feria was up 6.01 percent (down 0.91 percent for the year) and Los Fresnos was up 3.44 percent (down 3.89 percent for the year).
The retail sales tax allocations from the Office of the Texas Comptroller are an indicator of the strength of a city’s retail sales sector. These allocations are based on sales made in October by businesses that report tax monthly.
In Willacy County, Raymondville continued its climb-back from the closure of its Wal-Mart store with a 20.42 percent gain for the month (up 4.26 percent for the year) and Lyford was down 9.16 percent (up 2.72 percent for the year.)
In Hidalgo County, McAllen posted a positive gain of 3.18 percent for the month, yet remained off 2.48 percent for the year.
The only other big city in the county to post a positive number for October was Weslaco, which was up 0.51 percent (up 2.31 percent for the year).
Mercedes was down 9.39 percent for the month (down 11.50 percent for the year), Edinburg was down 1.22 percent (down 1.11 percent for the year) and Pharr was down 1.17 percent (up 1.25 percent for the year).
For Harlingen, it was the second straight month of double-digit gains year-over-year. For September, the city received a sales tax allocation which was 12.20 percent higher than the previous year.
Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar announced $695.2 million in local sales tax allocations would go to cities in December, 10.8 percent more than in December 2016.
Cameron County
Monthly Annual
HARLINGEN — Up 14.57 percent Up 6.42 percent
SAN BENITO — Up 7.70 percent Up 4.57 percent
RIO HONDO — Up 13.33 percent Up 0.04 percent
LA FERIA — Up 6.01 percent Down 0.91 percent
S. PADRE ISL — Up 3.01 percent Up 5.48 percent
PORT ISABEL — Up 3.68 percent Down 2.46 percent
LOS FRESNOS — Up 3.44 percent Down 3.89 percent
BROWNSVILLE — Up 1.73 percent Down 1.49 percent
Willacy County
RAYMONDVILLE — Up 20.42 percent Up 4.26 percent
LYFORD — Down 9.16 percent Up 2.72 percent
Hidalgo County
MCALLEN — Up 3.18 percent Down 2.48 percent
MERCEDES — Down 9.39 percent Down 11.50 percent
EDINBURG — Down 1.22 percent Down 1.11 percent
PHARR — Down 1.17 percent Up 1.25 percent
WESLACO — Up 0.51 percent Up 2.31 percent
Source: Texas Comptroller’s Office; sales are from October
