It is still too early to say Christmas sales in Clanton were up or down this year, but several area merchants have reported December sales were down from December 2007.

An indicator of sales in the area is the sales taxes reported by merchants in the city. City Clerk Debbie Orange said December’s sales tax numbers will not be available until the end of January. “Some merchants who have come in to renew business licenses told us their sales were off in December,” Orange said.

In November 2008, the city collected $483,117.03 sales taxes. In November, 2007, the city collected $463,373.64 which computes to $19,743.39 more taxes in November 2008 than November 2007.