CONSUMER BRIEFS / RETAIL

Americans may be cutting back on computers, books, washing machines and jewelry, but they’re still going to the dentist. Sageworks, which collects data on private companies, said the average dentist office saw 6.9% sales growth in the 12 months through April.

Oral hygiene isn’t the only area with sales gains in the recession, Sageworks said.

Among the service and product providers seeing revenue gains: Accountants tallied 10.2% higher revenue; storage companies’ sales rose 9.6%; building contractors, such as electricians and plumbers, had sales gains of 4.6% as homeowners focused on remodeling; grocery store sales receipts grew by 6.7%; and personal-care shops, such as hair salons, barber shops and skin-care providers, saw sales increase 4.5%.