Region Closes Out Retailing With Strong December

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Steady gains in most of the area’s largest retail centers closed out North Mississippi’s best overall Christmas shopping season in six years.

New state numbers show taxes collected on December retail sales were up in 60 of 92 towns from Philadelphia and Louisville to Ripley and Iuka.

Overall, sales tax revenues were up almost 5 percent compared to only about 2 percent the previous December.

Of the largest retail centers, only Amory and Oxford failed to see a significant jump. Meanwhile, Columbus set a new single-month record.