Spokane County reported total 4th quarter retail sales were up by a tiny 0.66 percent, compared with the year before.
That's the first fourth-quarter retail sales gain since 2008.
For the full 2010 year, Spokane County retail sales fell 2 percent. Avista Economist Randy Barcus said that's fairly impressive, since the previous year, 2009, was 10 percent off the year before.
“I expect consumer spending will have modest increases in 2011,” Barcus predicted in a newsletter from Greater Spokane Inc.
At the same time, Barcus said rising gas prices may pull consumer spending down somewhat.
The Spokesman-Review business team follows economic development in Spokane and the Inland Northwest.
Tom Sowa Tom Sowa covers technology, retail and economic development and writes the Office Hours blog.
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John Stucke John Stucke's primary coverage areas include health care, agriculture and the labor market.
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Becky Kramer Becky Kramer covers the environment, natural resources and utilities.
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Alison Boggs Online Producer Alison Boggs posts and manages content on spokesman.com and its social networking accounts.
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Scott Maben Scott Maben is a Deputy City Editor who covers North Idaho news and higher education.
Addy Hatch is the city editor, and formerly was business editor.
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