Texas Comptroller Glenn Hegar’s monthly report of sales tax revenue allocations shows the month of September totaled $3.15 billion, 22.3 percent more than in September 2020.
“September state sales tax collections rebounded sharply above last year’s pandemic-depressed level while strongly surpassing pre-pandemic levels as well,” Hegar said. “Tax receipts from all major economic sectors were up by double-digit percentages from a year ago, indicating vigorous spending by both businesses and consumers.
Despite continuing shortages of building materials, chemicals, semiconductors and more, the report shows receipts from the construction, manufacturing, and wholesale trade sectors rose sharply. Collections from the oil- and gas-mining sector almost doubled from a year ago, as drilling activity continued to rise while still remaining substantially below pre-pandemic levels.
“Within the retail trade sector, rapid growth continued in receipts from big-box retailers, which grew strongly during last year’s shut-down period, while receipts from mall-based department stores grew moderately. Among more specialized retailers, the fastest growth in receipts was from clothing stores and electronics and appliance stores, as has been the case in recent months. Receipts from online general merchandisers continued to grow moderately from last year’s elevated levels. As a portion of alcoholic beverage consumption has shifted back to on-premise consumption at bars and restaurants since the lifting of pandemic restrictions, receipts from food and beverage stores have ceased to grow, though they remain above pre-pandemic levels.”
