The upward trend for sales tax collections across the state continues.  For the third month in a row sales tax collections statewide were up, this month by 2.2 percent.  At first the slow growth was fueled by stronger retail sales, but not this month.   “The retail sector is down but sales tax collections from the oil and gas and manufacturing industry is up.”  Comptroller’s Spokesman RJ DeSilva says it’s too early to proclaim that we have officially turned the corner and say that this growth will be ongoing.  “For the last several months we’ve seen growth in sales tax revenue.  We’ll have to wait and see a few more months to see if this is going to be a prolonged growth or not.”