A record $713 million in annual retail sales was amounted in the city of Peru. The data was collected starting on October 1st, 2021 and finished on September 30th, 2022. Director of Economic Development Bob Vickery says the city wants to use the information to bring in new business like a Five Guy’s Burger restaurant or a Chick-Fil-A. Some businesses might not be interested in the city because of the small population. But the chart showing annual sales could change a company’s mind.
Vickery says data was collected using cell phone pings on towers to know who has been in town.
The biggest retail sales were from gas stations at $144 million and general merchandise sales were $136 million. He credits the city with having businesses like a movie theater, which many other cities in the area don’t have. He also credits past leaders for being proactive in bringing other businesses to town.
This chart breaks down the revenue collected in the city from October 2021 to September 2022.