
                         Roanoke Times
                 Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.

DATE: TUESDAY, May 11, 1993                   TAG: 9305110023
SECTION: BUSINESS                    PAGE: B6   EDITION: METRO 
SOURCE: George Kegley
DATELINE:                                 LENGTH: Short

REGIONAL SALES BEAT THE BLIZZARD

Taxable retail sales logged a healthy increase in March in the Roanoke Valley and across much of Western Virginia despite the blizzard that shut down stores and services for several days, state officials reported Monday.

The state Department of Taxation said Roanoke's gain was nearly $8 million, or 9 percent, bringing revenue collections to within 0.7 percent of the city's estimates. With the March sales, the city is running 5 percent ahead of last year, said Jim Grisso, acting finance director.

Virginia's taxable sales were up 10.5 percent, and 22 Western Virginia localities had higher sales. Eight localities had lower sales.

by CNB