Sales rise in October for Aspen retailers

Aspen retailers enjoyed a 9 percent increase in sales in October over the same month last year, according to a report released Wednesday by the city’s Finance Department.

October, however, is one of the year’s least busy months, accounting for an average of 4.5 percent of the year’s total sales.

Even so, this past October was buoyed by gains in the miscellaneous, liquor and marijuana and construction sectors, which respectively saw increases of 73, 39 and 33 percent.

Aspen retailers rang up $29.1 million in sales in October. From January through October, retailers have generated $538.8 million in sales, which is 6 percent better than the same period in 2014.

Two sectors produced nine figures in sales through October: Accommodations (lodges) drew $153.1 million; restaurants and bars $100.6 million. Those represent gains of 28.4 percent and 18.7 percent, respectively.

The accommodations boost also has translated into a 16 percent improvement in the city’s lodging tax collections for the year, which stood at $2.6 million through October.