At the close of Monday’s City Council meeting, Mayor Gary Moore said he had some good news to report.

Total retail sales for Kewanee in the first three months of this year topped $72 million, Moore said. That’s an increase of 15 percent over the first quarter of 2024.

“Phenomenal,” was the word Mark Mikenas used to describe the increase.

Mikenas, the executive director of the Kewanee Chamber of Commerce, said sales in the first quarter a year ago were $62 million,

The Consumer Price Index rose just under three percent in the first quarter of this year year, he added.

Kewanee saw increases in sales in the Food, Drinking and Eating, Apparel, Lumber and Building and Small Retail (non-general merchandise) categories. General Merchandise stayed flat for the quarter.

Decreases in sales were seen in the Furniture/Household and Automotive & Service Stations categories. 

Mikenas noted that New View Furniture and Appliances Unlimited ceased operations in 2024, which would have an impact on sales in the Furniture/Household category.

Local school districts saw the same type increase on their countywide tax.

“I also spot checked a few of my retail people in a few of the categories and they all reported great sales in the first quarter —  and not due to increased prices,” Mikenas said.

“I also checked Henry County sales and it was up just under 18 percent. And the Downstate numbers were up about 15 percent as well,” he said.

“Hopefully this trend will continue the rest of 2025 and we can set another record breaking sales year,” Mikenas said.