The 12-month period ending September 2019 was used as a baseline because it precludes the expansion of taxable sales to online purchases which came into effect in October 2019. To account for the increased taxability of these sales, the 2023/24 “other retail” sales total was reduced by $490 million in 2020 dollars — the amount of newly-taxable sales projected by the Maine Revenue Forecasting Commission in March 2020. Figures adjusted for inflation using the Consumer Price Index for New England. “Business Operations” sales were adjusted using the index for “home furnishings and supplies”; “food store” sales were adjusted using the index for “food at home”; “auto” sales were adjusted using the index for “new and used vehicles”; “restaurant” sales were adjusted using the index for “food away from home”; and lodging sales were adjusted using the index for “other lodging away from home” which includes hotels. Other items were adjusted using the “all items” index.
Source: Maine Revenue Services, statewide monthly taxable retail sales data for the 12 months ending September 2019 and the 12 months ending April 2024Created with Datawrapper