RETAIL SALES PERFORMANCE IN THE TRI CITIES REGION IMPROVED IN THE FOURTH QUARTER OF 2007. THAT’S ONE OF THE FINDINGS CONTAINED IN THE LATEST “TRI CITIES RETAIL SALES REPORT.” ETSU ECONOMIST DR. STEB HIPPLE SAYS THERE WAS POSITIVE GROWTH IN IN RETAIL SALES OVERALL IN ADDITION TO STRONG EMPLOYMENT LEVELS. IN PARTICULAR, JOHNSON CITY ENJOY STRONG RETAIL GROWTH WITH DOLLAR SALES INCREASING ALMOST 9 PERCENT TO REACH 500 MILLION DOLLARS. HIPPLE SAID THE NATIONAL ECONOMY DIDN’T FARE THAT WELL FOR THE FOURTH QUARTER OF THE YEAR. HE ADDED THE STATE OF TENNESSEE IN GENERAL APPEARS TO BE ENTERING A RETAIL DOWNTURN WITH MODEST GROWTH IN THE DOLLAR VALUE OF SALES, DECLINES IN SALES VOLUME, AND RESULTING SHORTFALLS IN TAX COLLECTIONS.