Signs of a Local Recovery

Sales tax collections are up in Phoenix (and that doesn't include the new tax on food) indicating consumers are spending more.

The over-year growth in sales-tax collections is showing positive results for Phoenix.

City officials said April sales-tax collections were up 1.7 percent compared with the same month last year, rising from $29.2 million to $29.7 million.

May collections were up about 0.7 percent compared with May 2009, rising from $27.9 million to $28.1 million. The figures do not include revenue from the city's recently enacted food tax.

This is a positive sign for the local economy.