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VITAL SIGNS

$6.9 BILLION

INCREASE IN TAXABLE RETAIL SALES REPORTED DURING THE FIRST EIGHT MONTHS OF 2017, UP NEARLY

8% OVER THE PREVIOUS YEAR

Caption: TAXABLE RETAIL SALES (BILLION) TOTAL RETAIL SALES $11.9 BILLION

source: N.C. Department of Revenue. August tax collections based on July sales.

RESIDENTIAL BUILDING PERMIT VALUATIONS (MILLION) (YEAR TO DATE) 17-AUG 16-AUG % CHANGE ASHEVILLE $374.5 $326.1 14.8% CHARLOTTE-CONCORD-GASTONIA 2,782.4 2,621.7 6.1 DURHAM-CHAPEL HILL 576.7 574.4 0.4 FAYETTEVILLE 105.6 111.4 (5.3) GREENSBORO-HIGH POINT 440.4 409.8 7.5 RALEIGH 1,902.5 1,657.9 CO WILMINGTON 386.2 234.1 65.0 WINSTON-SALEM 334.7 178.3 CO source: Census Bureau UNEMPLOYMENT RATES HIGHEST SCOTLAND 7.7% EDGECOMBE 7.4...