Local government sales tax collections in August increased by 15.5 percent, or $204 million, over the same month in 2020, making it the fifth month in a row that collections exceeded 2020 results. The double-digit growth in local sales taxes reflects the fact that collections during August of 2020 were fairly weak as sales activity was recovering in certain parts of the state from the early effects of the pandemic. Still, August 2021 total collections were strong even by comparison with pre-pandemic levels, growing 6.5 percent, or nearly $93 million, over August of 2019. Every county outside of New York City saw year-over-year collections for August grow by double digits, while New York City’s collections increased by 7.9 percent or over $45 million. | Regional Table [.xlsx]