Christmas sales were good for some towns, while others continued declines.

Houston gained more than $2,300 for the month, over the previous December, and now stands a little less than $2,000 ahead of the fiscal year 2009 pace.

While the rest of Chickasaw County didn't fare as well, Houston had some company in the area in having higher December sales.

Mantee almost doubled its December 2008 returns, with a climb of almost $1,300. The town returned to positive in the year-to-date comparison, moving ahead of the 2008 rate by about $400.

Vardaman gained about $800 for the month, drawing the town within $1,600 of the previous year's returns.

The other Chickasaw County municipalities declined precipitously. Okolona's sales tax returns dropped by almost $4,000, and sent the year-to-date returns more than $6,000 below the amount at the same point in 2008.

Houlka's returns dropped by almost $1,200 for the month, and Woodland's returns fell by about $1,600. Good returns earlier in the year left Houlka still about $3,500 ahead of last year's pace.

Woodland, meanwhile, now stands about $9,000 below the previous year's collection rate.