Revenue from the local sales tax in New York continued its ascent last month, growing by more than 17% compared to the same time period in 2020, according to a report released Monday by Comptroller Tom DiNapoli's office. 

Sales tax collections reached $1.6 billion, an increase from $235 million from November 2020, DiNapoli said. 

It's a potential sign of New Yorkers opening their wallets once more as the holiday season approached. The sales tax revenue data does not reflect where or how people shopped, however. And it does not show whether New Yorkers pulled back any spending as news of the omicron variant at the end of the month broke. 

There is now a surge in COVID cases in New York, and public health officials have put new indoor mask rules in place for businesses and other public locations that do not require a person to show proof of vaccination to enter. 

“As has been the case the past several months, November’s sales tax collections were greatly improved over last year,” DiNapoli said. “Although the bulk of holiday spending is expected to be reflected in December collections, November collections may have benefited from earlier shopping this year.”

Locally, nearly every county showed year-over-year growth in their sales tax collections last month. New York City saw a 12.6% increase, nearly $78 million, compared to last year. 

Rockland County experienced the largest increase at 51% over November 2020, following by Cayuga County at 40%.