Taxes paid to the state between the Oct. 11 and Nov. 10 collection period once again fell short of the September forecast. Receipts for the month were $52.8 million — 4.4 percent lower than expected. While there was a $60.4 million shortfall in Revenue Act receipts, non-Revenue Act payments exceeded the forecast by $7.4 million, or seven percent.

Tax payments by firms in the retail trade sector were 8.6 percent below the same period a year-ago. Last month, the sector saw a decline of 7.3 percent. Tax receipts from the retail?trade sector have declined year-over-year in nine of the last 10 months. The sectors with the largest declines were motor vehicle dealers, furniture stores, building materials/garden supply retailers, apparel and accessories stores, and sporting goods, toys, books and music stores.

The auto sector, the largest retail trade category, has now reported a year-over-year decline in tax payments for ten consecutive months. Three retailing sectors reported moderate-to-strong gains: gas stations and convenience stores, non-store retailers, and drug and health stores.

Non-retailing sectors reported a 1.2 percent overall decrease in tax payments. Last?month, collections from non-retailing sectors had decreased 3.7 percent. The construction sector reported a 5 percent decrease in tax payments this month after an 8.8 percent decrease in the prior month. Real estate excise tax and liquor sales were below their estimates.