Published: November 08, 2009 10:39 pm         

Enid retail sales show decline but stronger than rest of nation

Enid may be starting to feel the economic effects of the recession that have plagued other parts of the country for the past year, but it probably won’t be as bad here, officials said.

Enid’s gross retail sales were down 9.53 percent in August compared to last year, according to figures from Greater Enid Chamber of Commerce. August 2008 gross sales totaled $61,820,811 and dropped to $55,930,838 during the same period this year. August figures are the most recent available.

For the year-to-date, sales tax is down 5.11 percent from last year. In 2008, retail sales were $477,426,289 through August. This year, the number is $453,040,396.

Enid city sales tax figures show a decline of about 4.34 percent from 2008 to 2009 for the eight-month period Jan-uary through August. Interim Finance Director Joan Riley said 2008 sales were up from the previous year. According to city records, sales tax received January through August 2008 totaled $16,576,997.83. Sales tax receipts for the same period in 2009 total $15,856,763.88.

Mayor John Criner said basic city functions will not be affected and an update of those figures will be done at Tuesday’s rescheduled city commission meeting. City sales tax has been running 8 percent to 9 percent higher than the previous year until recent months, and the city developed a flat budget for this year.

“It’s about the same as the year before and we will review that,” he said.

Jon Blankenship, executive director of the chamber, said the sales report is indicative of what is going on nationally, but to a smaller extent.

“Retail was impacted substantially, but even though sales are lower than last year, we still outpace the rest of the state and national economy,” he said. “A lot of retail reports are showing sales down 20 percent to 30 percent nationally.”

Criner said if any cuts are made, there probably will be a decline in street repair and building paths.

“We may not see as much of that as we’d like to see. Employment will stay about the same. Eric (City Manager Eric Benson) does a good job with that,” Criner said.

That decision will be made by the full city commission. Criner said unemployment has dropped in Enid and people still are working, but the fear of the unknown still is stopping some people from spending money they may otherwise spend. The gross national product is up 3 percent nationwide.

“We’ve felt the downturn, but I suspect there is a lot of money in savings that people are waiting to see what happens in the economy,” Criner said.

The mayor is positive about Enid’s economy, but said Enid people are conservative and when things are tough they do not spend money unnecessarily.