**photo courtesy of Photo by Artificial Photography on Unsplash
Retail data numbers from Quarter 1 of 2024 has been released by the Illinois Department of Revenue. Looking at a group of twelve different cities for retail performance, which includes Monmouth and Galesburg, Knox County Area Partnership President Ken Springer shares there was an average 3.6 percent growth rate:
“The average growth rate for all twelve of the metros was 3.6 percent and that is Quarter 1 of 2024 versus Quarter 1 of 2023. Looking locally, Galesburg and Monmouth both had a good Q1. Galesburg’s retail sales receipts grew 2 percent in Quarter 1 and then Monmouth over the same time period had retail sales receipts growth of 3.9 percent. The Department of Revenue breaks retail sales down into different categories and Galesburg had growth in the apparel and the ag miscellaneous categories. Galesburg did though see declines in furniture and household goods and also in the grocery categories. Monmouth had growth in the apparel categories and lumber and hardware category and then declines in the first quarter in furniture, household goods, and in the automotive categories.”
Springer reports both Galesburg and Monmouth have shown growth in retail sales in three of the last four quarters.
