Sales Tax Revenue Up in New York State

ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) — State sales tax revenue rose 5.7 percent in New York for the first half of 2013 compared to the same period last year.

Comptroller Thomas DiNapoli says it's a promising sign of economic improvement, though some of that increase may have been fueled by the high cost of cleanup and rebuilding following last year's Superstorm Sandy.

The comptroller's report says the statewide gains were driven by an 8.5 percent increase on Long Island and 7.5 percent in New York City.

Upstate collections were up 4.4 percent in the Mid-Hudson Valley, 3 percent in western New York, 2.3 percent in central New York, 1.2 percent in the greater Albany area and 1.1 percent in northern New York.