Retail sales continue to weaken in the Tri-Cities.

According to the ETSU Bureau of Business and Economic Research, we had a strong first quarter, but the second and third quarters of 2012 clearly show that the retail expansion is running out of gas.

Compared to last year, Bristol showed a slight increase of 1.9 percent.

In Johnson City, sales fell 1.5 percent, and in Kingsport, sales dropped 2.2 percent.

In comparison, the United States increased for the twelfth quarter in a row, rising 4.1 percent.