Port Aransas sales tax rebates slumped sharply in January, posting only a 5.32 percent increase over the previous month, according to figures from Texas State Comptroller Susan Combs.

The numbers are the same for the month and for the year-to-date, since January starts the annual reporting cycle for sales tax rebates from the comptroller’s office.

Port Aransas received $74,147.48 in sales tax rebates, compared with $70,398.43 in January 2011, the comptroller’s numbers show. The numbers represent sales made in November; merchants sent the sales taxes to the state in December for rebates to cities, counties and other taxing entities this month.

By comparison, Por t Aransas got $96,135.65 in rebates in December and $130,589.32 in November. Those were increases of 12.87 percent and 12.16 percent from the previous months, respectively.

Statewide, Combs said state sales tax revenue in December was $1.98 billion, up 9.5 percent compared to December 2010.

“Sales tax revenue continues to grow in almost all major economic categories and revenue has now increased for 21 consecutive months,” Combs said. “Sales taxes from retail trade and restaurant activity continue to improve, with tax revenue from the oil and natural gas sector also providing a lift to overall collections.”