Texas Comptroller Susan Combs said the growth in sales tax collections continued at a modest pace in the first month of fiscal 2009, according to a news release.

According to information from the state comptroller's office, Combs sent sales tax payments to Texas cities, counties, transit systems and special purpose taxing districts totaling $452.7 million, up 2 percent from October 2007.

Combs said the state received a growth in sales tax collections at a reported $1.68 billion in September, up 3.7 percent from September 2007.

The growth remains mostly positive, but a few sectors have showed signs of slowing down. The sectors include: construction, retail trade and restaurants.

Local sales tax allocations are 6.2 percent higher than in 2007. Combs sent 1.4 percent more, a reported $305.1 million, in October 2008 than in October 2007 in local sales tax to Texas cities.

Combs next local sales tax allocation will be on Friday, Nov. 7.