Taxable sales in Gloucester and Mathews still show signs of a faltering economy, with sales in 2011 lower as a whole than in 2007. In Gloucester, sales were 9.2 percent lower in 2011 than they were in 2007, while in Mathews, they were 8.3 percent lower.

According to Virginia Department of Taxation records, compiled by the Weldon Cooper Center for Public Service, total taxable sales in Gloucester County dropped by $34.41 million over the past five years, from $372.1 million in 2007 to $337.69 million in 2011.

The building material and garden equipment and supplies sector accounted for the bulk of the actual dollar loss, with sales dropping by $23.13 million, from $72.39 million in 2007 to $49.26 million in 2011, or a 32 percent loss.

The sector that showed the greatest loss as a percent of sales was "special trade contractors," which includes such building trades as HVAC, painting and wallpapering, and electrical. This sector dropped by 85 percent, or $1.89 million, over the fiv...