Tourism Fuels Record Sales Across Region

Tourism is behind an economic bounce across southwest Florida in early 2013.

The Florida Department of Revenue reports that the region enjoyed a "record-breaking tourism season" for the month of January, according to the Sarasota Herald Tribune.

There was a whopping $2 billion in gross sales in January 2013 for businesses in Sarasota, Manatee and Charlotte counties, up 7 percent from January 2012.

Here is the breakdown by county:

• Sarasota County: $1 billion in gross sales,

• Manatee County: $786 million,

• Charlotte County: $326 million.

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