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slowed to 4.6 percent, but still stayed ahead of the metro areas, which held unchanged at 3 percent.
During the second quarter of the past year, Virginians experienced a slowdown in income growth to about eight percent compared to 1985. Employment growth also dropped during the second quarter, but retail sales accelerated during May and June with gains of more than 20 percent and 15 percent, respectively.
Non-metropolitan areas were the standouts in retail sales over the past year as well, with Fredericksburg, Harrisonburg and Winchester scoring consistently among the monthly leaders in retail sales growth.
Building permits skyrocketed during the summer, up 38.4 percent in May and 142 percent in June. A more modest increase of 21.1 percent was reported in July, but by August the trend had reversed and permits fell in August and September.
In the fourth quarter, permits rose £gain, and the year ended with a cumulative increase of 14.7 per- 4 cent.
New car sales were erratic month to month over the year, with sales picking up in August by 38.4 percent and 19.5 percent in September compared to 1985. Analysts credited the minimal interest rate loan offers touted by the automobile manufacturers. Fall brought more erratic performance, followed by a 35 percent increase in sales in De
90.7%