Finally, some good news about the economy. As reported by Lee Bonorden in today’s Herald, taxable retail sales finished up 7.5 percent for the period of April through December in 2008 over the year before.

This year’s January report showed sales up more than 15 percent above January 2008.

Taxable sales are the amount of sales that are subject to tax.

In addition to our local business owners, the City of Austin benefits as well when taxable retail sales increase because the city collects one-half of 1 percent of the sales by way of the Local Option Sales Tax.

This is good news that affects us locally. It’s not news out of Washington or out of St. Paul. It’s news out of Austin.

Hopefully, our taxable retail sales remain on the rise, and we remind our residents to continue buying local whenever possible.

Months ago, the Austin Chamber of Commerce launched its Buy Mower/Grow Mower campaign as a way to encourage residents to shift a portion of their out-of-town purchases to Mower County, which in turn helps in revitalizing the local economy.

Buy Mower/Grow Mower is a great program, and so far, it seems to be working.