Retail sales in Washington County have been trending upwards in recent years.
Washington Economic Development Group Director Ed Raber said the increase hasn’t been seen in every county across the state, “It’s kind of been on an upswing in a lot of places, but no, we have outpaced everyone else in southeast Iowa.” From 2011 to 2016 Washington County’s taxable sales increased 10.5%. Raber said since 2006 these sales have escalated, “When we look at retail sales in Washington County they were flat up until 2006. In 2006, Washington County’s retail sales really started to take off, and I mean the entire county not just the unincorporated area. So back in 2006 to now we’ve had a $70 million increase in retail sales. Raber said this is attributed to more people spending more of their money locally.
In addition, Washington County’s median family income has increased to $70,000, the second-highest in southeast Iowa, only behind Johnson County.