Five More States Report Improvements in October

1. Georgia's economy continued to show signs of improvement as state tax collections rose in October, the fifth straight month they have climbed.  Tax collections for the month are up 8.2 percent from the same month a year before, an increase of almost $93 million. Individual income tax collections -- considered an important economic indicator -- rose 4.1 percent. Sales tax collections jumped 7.4 percent. Corporate income taxes dipped 10.5 percent. Motor fuel taxes increased 14.1 percent.

2. Kentucky's general fund tax collections rose 8.1 percent in October from the same month a year ago, the best monthly improvement in two years but one that the state's budget director says isn't sustainable. Thanks in part to last month's strong performance, revenue collections have risen 5.3 percent for the first four months of the fiscal year. The 8.1 percent revenue upswing was the state's best monthly improvement since April 2008.

3. Texas sales tax receipts grew 6.6 percent in October compared to the same month a year ago. The $1.6 billion jump marks the seventh consecutive month of growth following a 14-month slump.

4. Tennessee's tax revenue grew 6.4 percent in October compared to the year before, a sign that the state may be starting to feel an economic recovery. It was the third straight month of year-over-year gains.

5. October tax collections for Minnesota were $46 million ahead of earlier projections, as the individual income tax, sales tax and corporate tax were all better than expectations.