Kalona led Washington County and most area communities in taxable retail sales gains during the fourth quarter of fiscal l998 according to the Iowa Department of Revenue & Finance.

Kalona had a gain of 5.03 per cent in taxable retail sales during the quarter that ended March 31, 1998. Retail sales tallied $4,401,006 during the 3-month period of l997 compared to $4,622,636 for the same period in l998, an increase of $221,630.

Meanwhile, Washington had a decrease of $832,148 from $14,348,620 in the l997 quarter to $13,568,858 for the l998 period. That is a decrease of 5.78 per cent.

Wellman had a decrease of 4.71 per cent and the county’s overall decrease was 2.54 per cent or $601,271.

Wilton, Sigourney, Solon, West Branch and North Liberty lead the area’s smaller communities in growth. See chart below for details.

Kalona’s taxable retail sales gains are even more dramatic when compared to 1992 and 1993 sales for the same period. Kalona’s retail sales in the l992 4th quarter tallied $3,250,989. The l998 quarter taxable retail sales were up $1,371,647 or 42.19 per cent. Compared to the $3,349,042 in taxable sales in l993, the l998 sales were up $1,1273,594 or 38.03 per cent. Retail sales for the same period in 1995 were $3,867,653.

Washington’s retail sales are down 9.21 per cent or $1,376,185 from the same period in 1992.