Sales in fourth quarter up in Virginia, on Peninsula

The end of 2013 saw a slight increase in taxable sales in Virginia, according to the latest data from the state's department of taxation.

Overall, taxable sales in Virginia - which includes categories such as retail, food, hospitals, manufacturing and real estate - increased by about 1.7 percent year-over-year between and Nov. 1, 2013 and Jan. 31, 2014.

The taxable sales report is published by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service at the University of Virginia. The center posts quarterly and annual data dating back to 1996 Super Sale its website, coopercenter.org.

James City County saw a 6 percent increase year-over-year in the final quarter of 2013 and Suffolk posted a 3.3 percent increase.

Other counties and cities on the Peninsula saw increases, as well, but most were only slightly increased over 2012 numbers.

York, Hampton and Williamsburg, saw about a 1 percent increase in taxable sales year-over-year, while Gloucester, Newport News, Poquoson sales increased by about 2 percent. Isle of Wight County sales were largely flat.

No counties or cities on the Peninsula posted a decrease in sales.

Holiday sales increased by about 3.8 percent nationwide, according to the National Retail Federation. Retail sales, however, only account for a portion of the overall taxable sales report generated by the state.

The U.S. Census Bureau reported that total sales from October to December increased by 1 percent, nationwide.

Paitsel can be reached by phone at 757-247-4737.

Famous Smoke Shop Publishes New Cigar Discount Promo Codes

Easton, PA (PRWEB) February 17, 2014

Famous Smoke Shop is an online distributor of discount premium cigars specializing in offering the web's widest cigar selection, best prices, and expert customer service. The company has just announced its release of new cigar discount coupons they will offer. Each Promotional Codes is applicable to any order made through the company's website or over the phone at 1-800-564-2486.

Starting now, Famous Smoke Shop will be offering a variety of new promotional codes to all of it's customers to receive bonus products or instant cash back off their cigar orders. Some of the coupons available are $20 off any order over $200, a 6-pack sampler with an order of $125 or more, bonus 5-packs, bonus boxes of cigars, a bonus ash tray with an order, and more. No matter what a customer wants to order, they are able to use a coupon on it to either save money or get free product.

Each order allows customers an opportunity to receive instant cash back or bonus items and every order may be able to include a coupon. This allows customers to customize their orders and get more for the money they spend.

Since the coupons were released, there has been a big splash at Famous Smoke Shop by customers rushing to take advantage of the deals. All of these deals and coupons are available not only on the web but through phone orders as well. People interested in learning more about the Outlet at Famous Smoke Shop can call 1-800-564-2486 or can log on to Famous-smoke.com. Customers should be advised that restrictions may apply on particular items, a full list of restrictions is available on the company's website.

About Famous Smoke Shop

Famous Smoke Shop is the nation's #1 discount retailer of premium cigars online, offering one of the largest selections of handmade cigars, machine-made cigars, cigar humidors and accessories. Famous offers the web's lowest prices on a wide selection of cigar brands including Acid, Davidoff, Macanudo, Romeo y Julieta, Ashton, Padron, Oliva and Perdomo cigars, and many more. Famous offers their customers the best prices on all premium cigars as well as friendly and knowledgeable customer service.

Sides Trade Insults as Syria Talks End Without Deal

Homs Aid Remains Unresolved Amid Wrangling

by Jason Ditz, January 31, 2014

Though the talks dragged on for over a week, the Geneva II peace conference on Syria ended without any real deals on any issues of important, and both the Syrian government and the opposition Syrian National Coalition (SNC) traded insults before leaving.

The issue that was closest to being resolved, the siege of central Homs, likewise remained totally unresolved, with UN officials saying both sides were slapping unrealistic preconditions on allowing aid in.

The Syrian government offered to let women and children leave, but said that men leaving would have to give their names at checkpoints, and this would almost certainly mean arrest, as has happened in previous cases where rebel-held areas were lost.

The SNC didn't necessarily have preconditions of its own, but the rebel fighters inside Homs did, threatening to attack UN aid convoys that try to enter the city on sight. They are opposing aid in general, and say they will only accept a Buy Cheap that allows everyone in the Old City area of Homs to leave, and take their weapons with them, to other rebel-held areas. Needless to say, that's also a non-starter.

The preconditions on this and other areas of discussion left both sides plenty of ammunition to declare the other uninterested in making peace, and foreign powers at the talks used this as a pretext to verbally bludgeon whichever side they opposed in the first place.

UN Special Envoy Lakhdar Brahimi, whose efforts are the only reason the talks didn't end on the first day, says he believes there is still some common ground and room to negotiate, and he is trying to arrange a resumption of the conference on February 10. Whether this happens remains to be seen, but the Assad government is said to be non-commtital about any more talks, and after the trainwreck of this week, it's hard to blame them for being pessimistic.

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