FOURTH QUARTER OF 2007. THAT’S ONE OF THE FINDINGS CONTAINED IN THE LATEST “TRI CITIES RETAIL SALES REPORT.” EAST TENNESSEE STATE UNIVERSITY ECONOMIST DR. STEB HIPPLE SAYS THERE WAS POSITIVE GROWTH IN RETAIL SALES OVERALL IN ADDITION TO STRONG EMPLOYMENT LEVELS. IN PARTICULAR, JOHNSON CITY IN THE FOURTH QUARTER ENJOYED STRONG RETAIL GROWTH WITH DOLLAR SALES INCREASING ALMOST 9 PERCENT TO REACH 500 MILLION DOLLARS.