Retail sales on Whidbey Island appear to have experienced increases in 2023 compared to 2022, according to a report from the state Department of Revenue. Heading into the holiday shopping season, several local chambers of commerce are confident that there will be a strong showing this year.

The state data shows that Island County as a whole brought in $466 million for all taxable retail sales in the second quarter – April to June – of 2023, compared to $442 million in the second quarter of 2022, which amounts to a 5.4% increase.

Taxable retail sales are transactions subject to the retail sales tax, including sales by retailers, the construction industry, manufacturing, and other sectors. Retail trade includes sales of items such as clothing, furniture, and automobiles, but excludes other industries, such as services and construction.

Data on retail trade – excluding construction and other service-related industries – shows that Island County generated a total of $176 million in 2023 compared to $173 million in 2022, which is an increase of about 1.6%.

Some municipalities saw significant increases of retail trade, year over year. The town of Coupeville generated a whopping increase of 8.8%, from $5.9 million to $6.5 million.

Not far behind, the city of Langley had a 5.8% increase, from $5.4 million to $5.7 million. According to Langley Chamber of Commerce Executive Director Inge Morascini, the Village by the Sea has seen an increase of 29% in sales tax revenue since 2020.

“The business community continues to report visitors to the community in excess of years past for this time of year and are doing a brisk business,” Morascini said, adding that the Langley and Coupeville Chambers of Commerce have partnered on a joint advertising campaign known as “Holidays by the Sea,” which includes a 28-page gift guide that will be distributed to all hotels, local businesses and visitor centers.

The city of Oak Harbor, on the other hand, is the only municipality on Whidbey to experience a decrease of retail trade in 2023 compared to 2022. That decrease was 1.1%, from $73.7 million to $72.9 million.

“I feel consumers will continue spending locally and showing resilience despite business inflation challenges,” said Magi Aguilar, the executive director of the Oak Harbor Chamber of Commerce. “This year it is especially important to shop locally because it’s not only contributing to a strong community but it’s a perfect time to show our small businesses that we support and appreciate them.”

She added that this past month the chamber has conducted over 10 ribbon cuttings, a sign of a healthy business climate.

Unincorporated Island County experienced a modest increase of 3.2%, from $88.3 million in 2022 to $91.2 million in 2023.

Taxable retail sales statewide had a 3.2% gain reaching $59 billion, even with some retail industries reporting a slight dip in revenue, according to the state Department of Revenue.