Alabamians spent more than $11.43 billion during the months of November and December 2016, making it the strongest holiday buying season on record for the state.

Taxed holiday sales in our state totaled $11,431,561,431.08, a jump of 4.77 percent over 2015 holiday sales. The final numbers, released in early February by the Alabama Department of Revenue, slightly exceeded Alabama Retail Association’s pre-season prediction of $11.4 billion. The state surpassed national holiday sales totals, which were up 4 percent, according to the National Retail Federation.

The windfall of added sales tax revenues for the state came, in part, from the simplified sellers use tax. For the first time, purchases Alabamians made through Amazon and more than 84 other online-only retailers also added to total tax collections. Online-only sellers voluntarily remitted $5.79 million to the state in November and $7.78 in December.

However, even without the additional revenues from the simplified sellers use tax, spending would have still been up 3.18 percent over 2015.

The Alabama Revenue Department reports sales tax collections on general merchandise, automobiles, machinery, restaurant and other food service sales as well as vending.

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The Alabama Retail Association represents retailers, the largest private employer in the state of Alabama, before the Alabama Legislature and the U.S. Congress. Through sales of food, clothing, furniture, medicine and more, our 4,200 independent merchant and national company members touch almost every aspect of daily living. Since 1943, we’ve worked to promote what’s best for the retail industry in Alabama. Whether voicing the retail view when public policy is made, educating members about issues that impact them, negotiating rates for benefits and services or communicating the retail story, the Alabama Retail Association and its members are better together!