Consumer and business spending in East Baton Rouge Parish dropped by less than 1 percent in April.
The Advocate reports (http://bit.ly/1IfxTUO) sales tax collection figures released Wednesday by the city-parish Finance Department show businesses and consumers spent almost $671.0 million in April. That compares with $676.3 million in spending in April 2014.
The figures do not include vehicle sales, which are generally examined separately when looking at spending as an economic indicator.
Spending, excluding vehicles, within the Baton Rouge city limits was up 5 percent in April, but spending outside the city limits of Baton Rouge was down by 7.7 percent.