Chickasaw County retailers took a hit in October. Calhoun County's retailers, not so much.

The state Tax Commission's figures for October show that sales tax returns in each of Chickasaw County's municipalities - Houston, Okolona, Houlka and Woodland - declined.

Okolona got the worst of the sales crunch, with tax returns from retail sales in the city limits falling about $4,500 from the previous October.

Houston's tax returns took a big tumble as well, with figures showing a drop of about $3,200 from October last year.

Woodland took far and away the biggest percentage loss to its returns, losing about 30 percent of the previous October's returns value.

Calhoun County was almost just the opposite of Chickasaw in October, as sales tax returns increased in Bruce, Calhoun City, Derma, Slate Springs and Vardaman.

Calhoun City was the star performer for the month, seeing a big gain of almost 20 percent over October 2007. Derma jumped up about 10 percent over the same month a year ago.

Bruce edged up slightly over the previous October, after a couple of months of losses against the previous year's results.

Mantee, just south of the Webster County line, also posted a significant gain in October.

October's figures:

- Big Creek - Down $180 for the month; up $685 for the year.

- Bruce - Up $200 for the month; down $5,900 for the year.

- Calhoun City - Up $4,500 for the month; up $10,500 for the year.

- Derma - Up $530 for the month; up $2,000 for the year.

- Houlka - Up $420 for the month; down $3,000 for the year.

- Houston - Down $3,200 for the month; down $2,900 for the year.

- Mantee - Up $565 for the month; up $1,000 for the year.

- Okolona - Down $4,500 for the month; down $4,700 for the year.

- Pittsboro - Down $240 for the month; up $50 for the year.

- Slate Springs - Down $95 for the month; up $304 for the year.

- Vardaman - Up $1,300 for the month; up $2,450 for the year.

- Woodland - Down $2,750 for the month; down $4,700 for the year.