OKLAHOMA CITY – Gross receipts to the state treasury paint a picture of a sound but moderating Oklahoma economy as total collections climb to a new high, State Treasurer Todd Russ announced.
The 12-month record total of $17.64 billion is $1.77 billion or 11.2 percent more than the year before. However, when reviewing the monthly comparison, the difference between March and last March of $16.6 million or 1.2 percent is the lowest level of growth seen since June 2022.
“The results continue to reflect an expanding Oklahoma economy,” said Russ. “With that said, rising interest rates are adversely impacting economic activity for both consumers and businesses.”
As measured by the Consumer Price Index, the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the annual inflation rate at 6.0 percent in February. The energy component of the index increased 5.2 percent over the last year, and the food index remained high at 9.5 percent.
The U.S. jobless rate was 3.6 percent in February, up by 0.2 of a percentage point from the prior month. Oklahoma’s employment numbers continue to show strength. In February, the rate was 3.0 percent, a decrease of 0.1 percent from January.
Regional economic trends remain positive. For March, the Creighton University Mid-America Business Conditions Index for the nine-state region stayed above growth neutral at 50.8. The Oklahoma component of the index rose to 55.3, increasing from 54.9 the previous month.
March 2023 collections compared to gross receipts from March 2022 show: Total monthly gross collections are $1.4 billion, up by $16.6 million, or 1.2 percent.
Gross income tax collections, a combination of individual and corporate income taxes, generated $500.2 million, up by $10.2 million, or 2.1 percent.
Individual income tax collections total $431.5 million, an increase of $11.4 million, or 2.7 percent.
Corporate collections are $68.7 million, down by $1.3 million, or 1.8 percent.
Combined sales and use tax collections, including remittances on behalf of cities and counties, total $556.0 million – up by $29.8 million – or 5.7 percent.
Sales tax collections are $470.1 million, an increase of $19.6 million, or 4.3 percent.
Use tax receipts, collected on out-of-state purchases including internet sales, generated $85.8 million, an increase of $10.2 million, or 13.5 percent.
Gross production taxes on oil and natural gas total $156.6 million, a decrease of $8.7 million, or 5.2 percent.
Motor vehicle taxes produced $79.2 million, down by $3.3 million, or 4.1 percent.
Other collections composed of some 60 different sources produced $107.7 million, a decrease of $11.4 million, or 9.5 percent.