Aspen retailers see 4 percent slide in April

Nine of Aspen’s 12 retail industries saw sales drop in April compared with April 2016, according to a report issued Monday by the city’s Finance Department.

Retailers combined to draw $27.4 million in sales in April, down 4 percent from the same month last year. Even so, this year’s first four months are pacing 4 percent ahead of the first third of 2016. From January through April, retailers generated $270.6 million in sales, the report said.

April generally accounts for 4 percent of retail sales for the year as well as the city’s sales tax collections, according to the report.

Here’s a look at how the retail sectors performed in April:

• Lodging, $4.1 million, down 4 percent

• Restaurants and bars, $4.7 million, down 7 percent

• Sports equipment/clothing, $1.7 million, up 14 percent

• Clothing, $1.9 million, down 1 percent

• Food and drug, $3 million, up 14 percent

• Liquor and marijuana, $1 million, down 1 percent

• General retail, $1.1 million, down 12 percent

• Construction, $3 million, down 5 percent

• Luxury goods, $1.3 million, up 4 percent

• Utilities, $3.5 million, down 14 percent

• Automobile, $1.4 million, down 11 percent

• Miscellaneous, $788,652, down 24 percent