CLIPBOARD : Taxable Sales In Decline

The nationwide economic decline cut into Orange County in last year’s spending season, and in the fourth quarter dropped taxable sales by 2.5% compared to the October-December period in 1989. That loss was greater than in three of Orange County’s contiguous neighbors, two of which (Los Angeles and Riverside counties) recorded increases. In the combined five-county region, spending dropped 0.7%, not as much as in Orange County. Statewide, there was a 1.1% increase.

Here’s how Orange County compared to surrounding counties and the rest of the state:

Fourth Quarter Fourth Quarter 1989-’90 County 1989 Total 1990 Total % Change Los Angeles $20,914,870 $21,022,701 +0.5 Orange 7,441,154 7,256,900 -2.5 Riverside 2,434,460 2,477,026 +1.7 San Bernardino 2,976,692 2,919,922 -1.9 San Diego 5,764,216 5,579,928 -3.2 Five-County Total $39,531,392 $39,256,477 -0.7 STATEWIDE $72,806,867 $73,595,163 +1.1

Source: State Board of Equalization