Local Retail Sales Still Growing As Of April
While tariffs dominate the national financial news, consumer sales in Fayette County have been strong so far in 2025.
The county’s local sales tax revenue is up 16.9% for the first four months of the year, the third highest increase among the nine area counties that levy the optional tax on retail sales. Through April, Fayette County has received over $1.1 million from the one-half percent tax. In dollar figures, that puts it ahead of Colorado and Austin counties, but behind Gonzales and Caldwell counties.
In percentage gain, Austin County, home to Sealy and Bellville, is up the most of the area counties, with a 21.3% increase over last year, while Colorado County is up 17.8%. Fayette ranks third at 16.9%.
Six of the seven towns in Fayette County that have sales taxes are up for the year.
Leading the way is Fayetteville, with an increase of more than 40%. But that’s due to last year being exceptionally low. Still, with $54,241 coming into the city treasury so far this year, it’s the best ever for the January to April period.
La Grange is just shy of $900,000 for the four months. That’s 2.1% ahead of the same period last year.
Schulenburg, the county’s second city, is up 7.4% for the year, with $426,719.
Flatonia, with an 11.4% gain, also is at a record high for the four-month period.
Round Top is just short of $150,000 this year, which is also an 11.4% gain.
Ellinger barely equaled last year, up 0.3%, while Carmine is down 3.3% so far this year.
Bastrop County remains the region’s largest retail sales center, taking in $3.1 million for the county treasury so far this year. Among the cities, Bastrop has received over $4.4 million, with numerous major new outlets on the drawing boards. Both SpaceX and the Boring Company are building plants on FM 1209, northwest of the town of Bastrop. Meanwhile, retail development is expanding at the Bastrop H-E-B and at Burleson Crossing East, where construction of a LongHorn Steakhouse to begin in June and a PetSmart in 2026.