Trending
COVID-19 hasn't changed how much money county residents are spending -- but it has drastically changed where they are spending money.
A recent New York State Association of Counties report analyzes total taxable sales in Chautauqua County for June through August 2020 compared to the same period in 2019.
"The release of second quarter (state fiscal year) taxable sales data provides a window into how certain industries rose and fell from pandemic restrictions, including which ones showed signs of recovery in the June through August quarter. Future data releases will inform how the continued reopening of local economies across the state are impacting county revenues and which industries are returning to some level of normal activity. The delivery of more and better therapeutics, and vaccines, will help facilitate this transition, but we could be well into 2021 before that process is completed and people feel comfortable returning to 'normal' activities," the report states.
Struggling areas of the economy come as little surprise. The biggest percentage decrease year-over-year came in the traveler accommodation industry, which lost 58.6% of its total taxable sales due to the pandemic. Gas stations lost 25.5% of their taxable sales, followed by petroleum and petroleum products wholesalers at 23.9%. Restaurants lost 15% of their total taxable sales while automotive repair and maintenance shops lost 14.4% of their total taxable sales.
Other amusement and recreation industries lost 22.4% of their taxable sales. Wired and wireless communications decreased 12.8%.
A report by the New York State Association of Counties has analyzed total taxable sales in Chautauqua County. It shows more people are spending money at places like grocery stores and car dealerships this year than in 2019. P-J photo by Jay Young
"Some sectors continue to struggle, such as traveler accommodation and restaurants and other eating places, which were still down 77% and 39% in the June-August period, respectively," the report states, referring to statewide statistics. "The data clearly shows how phased re-openings and related restrictions impacted these key sectors. Sectors less capable of handling density reductions and other restrictions, largely through no fault of their own, still lag in total sales compared to pre-COVID conditions."
The news isn't all bad, however.
Statewide, total taxable sales were down about $8.6 billion in the June through August period, about 9 percent over last year's numbers. While still down overall, this represented an improvement over the prior quarter and 38 counties saw their taxable sales activity meet or exceed the 2019 levels for the June through August period.
Chautauqua County's total taxable sales increased 1.1% from June through August 2020 compared to the same period in 2019, with electronic shopping and mail-order houses leading the way with a 92.4% increase in taxable sales. Building material and supplies dealers saw sales increase 32.6% from the same period in 2019 while lumber and construction materials merchandise wholesalers saw sales increase 34.4%. Beer, wine and liquor stores saw total taxable sales increase 16.4%.
The top 20 industries in Chautauqua County account for about three-quarters of the county's total taxable sales in a given year.