INLAND EMPIRE – (INT) - Consumer and business spending in the Inland Empire have been gaining traction, particularly in San Bernardino County, according to a new analysis. Taxable sales is growing at more than twice the rate of Riverside County.

The UC Riverside School of Business found that that spending increased in nearly every category in the Inland Empire with the exception of Fuel and Service Stations which was down 11.2% because of a significant drop in gasoline prices.

Taxable sales in the Inland Empire as a whole increased by 6.4%. At the County level, sales jumped by 8.9% in San Bernardino County, compared to 3.7% in Riverside County. Taxable sales growth in both counties, however, outpaced growth in California overall, which was 3 percent.

The data applies to the period from the 4th quarter of 2014 to the 4th quarter of 2015.

In a separate analysis, the UCR School of Business found that Asian-owned businesses survived the recession quite well. Revenues in California grew by 30 percent from 2007-12 while total revenue growth among all businesses in the state was 8.2 percent.

Story Date: June 28, 2016