COUNTYWIDE : Retail Sales Reaching Higher

Retail sales in Orange County during the fourth quarter of 1989, the most recent period for which information is available, hit a two-year high--$4.8 billion. That was a 7.1% increase over the previous year’s fourth quarter. Overall, 1989 retail sales were 8.3% higher than in 1988.

Led by Fountain Valley’s 51.4% leap, 23 cities and the unincorporated areas increased sales over 1988’s fourth quarter. Three cities had lower totals, and in one, Cypress, the difference was less than 1%. The county’s retail sales champ for the quarter: Costa Mesa with $533 million.

Here’s how the cities compare, listed from largest percentage increase to largest loss:

Fourth Fourth Quarter Quarter Percentage City 1989 ** 1988 ** Change Fountain Valley 115,508 76,308 +51.4 San Juan Capistrano 67,553 50,006 +35.1 Tustin 147,851 109,545 +34.9 Los Alamitos 26,987 22,634 +19.2 Yorba Linda 30,737 26,278 +16.9 Brea 126,943 109,211 +16.2 Orange 340,362 311,024 +9.4 Placentia 48,777 44,639 +9.3 Laguna Beach 38,766 35,663 +8.7 Huntington Beach 350,649 323,978 +8.2 Newport Beach 222,955 208,238 +7.1 Stanton 43,400 40,719 +6.6 Mission Viejo 135,776 128,262 +5.9 Buena Park 177,875 168,256 +5.7 Anaheim $426,370 $405,855 +5.0 San Clemente 44,058 42,071 +4.7 Irvine 243,395 233,234 +4.4 Fullerton 248,845 240,758 +3.4 Seal Beach 22,079 21,433 +3.0 Costa Mesa 533,029 517,592 +2.9 Garden Grove 239,571 233,013 +2.8 La Habra 90,860 88,454 +2.7 Westminster 195,541 191,046 +2.4 Unincorporated areas 336,832 331,271 +1.7 Cypress 47,662 47,676 * Santa Ana 458,826 466,131 -1.6 Villa Park 2,474 2,934 -15.7 La Palma 8,896 10,783 -17.5 Dana Point 34,496 N/A -- Laguna Niguel N/A N/A -- COUNTY TOTAL $4,807,073 $4,487,012 +7.1

** Amounts listed in thousands of dollars

* Less than 1%

Source: California State Board of Equalization