Retail sales in June grew more than 4% over the same month in 2010, fueled by jumps in building supply and business operating sales.
Total taxable retail sales in June were $1.7 billion, a 4.3% increase over the same month last year, according to the Maine State Planning Office. Building supply sales grew 12.5% over June 2010, likely due to last year's drop following the expiration of federal homebuyer tax credits. Business operating sales, mostly out-of-state purchases by Maine businesses, grew 8.6%, while auto and transportation sales also saw big gains of 3.9%.
Total sales for the last three months, April through June, are 2.3% higher than the same three-month period a year ago. For more, see "By the numbers," below.