Shopping in El Campo stores is picking up, according to the city’s main economic indicator, and officials hope the trend continues. The State Comptroller’s Office announced the city’s sales tax collections were up 11.37 percent during the latest reporting period, and reflects purchases made in August during the height of back-to-school shopping. Sales tax rebates fund 41 percent of the El Campo’s budget in comparison to the 38 percent generated from taxes on homes and businesses. The last year El Campo experienced a sales tax loss was 2016, when collections were down 3.41 percent.