Block · one region of the page, as the scanner read it. It may hold a whole story, part of one, several, or an advertisement; stitching blocks into articles is the next step. Text is supplied OCR.
Page 4 · column 4 of 6 · from the scan, no model involved
suits indicated total spending by customers of our sample of financial institutions is lower than last year.”
Decreases in consumer demand were also apparent in other indicators. New car registrations statewide fell 3.9 percent in July, following a 10.3 percent year-overyear drop in June. The fall has been cushioned only by “substantial incentives and price breaks from the dealers,” said Mr. Pearson.
Retail sales from the bureau’s sample of stores reported a 3.0 percent fall in sales per store for July, a larger drop than the 1.4 percent in June but less than May’s 4.3 percent decline. “Our own sample and the state sales tax receipts both are delivering the same message: retail sales in Virginia this summer so far are below last year’s levels,” said Mr. Pearson. Comparable national figures during the same period show gains, he added.
The drop in consumer demand
94.5%