Mark Mikenas, executive director of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce, announced Thursday that sales tax totals for 2023 showed that merchants in the city totaled some $260 million in sales for the year, an annual record.
Mikenas noted that the sales figures are “not adjusted for inflation,” but inflation in 2023 had leveled off from its pandemic levels.
Sales in the fourth quarter totaled $67 million, possibly an indicator of strong Christmas sales.
“We’ve had bigger increases, but that was a good quarter,” Mikenas said.
The biggest increase for the year was in food sales, which posted a 16% gain. At the same time, Mikenas noted, sales at drinking and eating places rose 5.1%.
Another big increase was in apparel sales, which were up 29%. The Small Retail category increased 7.9% and under the heading of General Merchandise, the increase was 4.2%.
The only business categories not showing significant sales increases during the year were Lumber and Building Supplies, and Automotive Sales.
Mikenas said 2023 was the sixth year in a row for increases and the third year in a row in which local retail sales broke the previous year’s record.
***This copy was edited to clarify the number of years for increases and the number of years for the increase breaking the previous year’s record.
