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One bright note in the midst of economic gloom comes from retail sales. Income for the county from the local sales tax has steadily increased. There is a pattern to these sales. Each year th£ first quarter is the lowest, with the fourth quarter, which includes Christmas and the fall apple season, the highest.
The sales tax total for 1990 was $166,100, a 9 percent increase over $152,200 in 1989. In 1991 the total went to $176,200, a 6 percent increase over 1990. While the fourth quarter of 1991 was not as high as the fourth quarter of 1990, the first quarter of 1992 has shown a 7 percent increase over last year’s first quarter.
This prosperity has not been evenly split among Rappahannock retailers, however. Susan Parrish at Cabin Fever Books in Washington reports that December 1990 was the high point for her business. Since then the store has managed to cover expenses but not to make a profit for the proprietors.
Randolph Clater at the Sperryville Corner Store reports that his business keeps growing. He said that 1991 was a good year with business up 1 to 2 percent over 1990. “People have to eat, and they will keep buying food even if they have to use food stamps,” he said.
84.9%