Study: Wal-Mart supercenters benefit California communities

Sacramento, Calif. – Wal-Mart supercenters in California benefit communities by supporting additional job creation, small business growth and more robust sales tax revenues. According to a new economic impact report conducted by economist Lon Hatamiya of the Hatamiya Group, on average, California communities with Wal-Mart supercenters fared far better on taxable retail sales than those communities without Wal-Mart supercenters.



In addition, total taxable retail sales in California communities with Wal-Mart supercenters increased by an average of 20.3% after the opening of those stores, and total taxable retail sales in California communities without Wal-Mart supercenters decreased by an average of 11.7% during the same time period.



On average, California communities with Wal-Mart supercenters experienced even stronger gains in the number of retail business permits issued than those communities without supercenters. Total retail business permits in California communities with Wal-Mart supercenters increased by an average of 48.5% after the opening of those stores. Total retail business permits in California communities without Wal-Mart supercenters also increased, but only by an average of 20.3% the same time period.