Total retail taxable sales in Arizona for January through July were $30.7 billion, a 7% decrease from the same period a year earlier. The brightest area was mining and agriculture, with a 13.7% increase. The only other sector with an increase was miscellaneous retail, which includes bookstores, office specialty, and pharmacies.
Vehicle sales were off 23% and home furnishings and furniture fell nearly 10% reflecting the drop in home buying.
[right, AZ Dept. of Mines and Mineral Resources]