While snow and winter weather may be hampering the economy in many parts of the United States, it was a good thing for Andalusia in December.

Sales tax collections in January, representing retail purchased made in December of 2014, were 5 percent higher than for the same period last year.

The City of Andalusia partnered with the Andalusia Area Chamber of Commerce to have snow fall on the Court Square every weekend in December. The events were designed to draw families to town.

The $807,043 in taxes collected for December sales represents $23,059,228 in retail sales, an increase of $1.1 million in local retail sales over the same period last year, when city sales taxes were $768,207, representing $21.9 million in retail sales.

Preliminary plans are to have snow events again in December of 2015.

Year to date, sales taxes in the city of Andalusia are trending 4 percent higher than the same period last year.