For the first time in seven years, Bentonville, Fayetteville, Rogers, and Springdale kicked off the year with a drop in sales tax revenue—down over 2% from last January. Only Rogers managed a slight increase, while the others saw declines, with Bentonville taking the biggest hit. This slowdown could mean tighter city budgets and fewer resources for community projects. With local growth estimates also trending lower than past years, it’s got a lot of folks wondering: Is this just a blip, or a sign of bigger changes ahead for Northwest Arkansas? What’s your take on what’s driving the shift? #Business #Market #NWA