Durham County got its December sales tax figures Thursday, a few days earlier than expected, and the amounts were better than expected — topping December 2007 take by more than 12 percent.

County budget analyst Keith Lane reported the numbers in a memo to County Manager Mike Ruffin.

"If we ever needed good news, that was good news," Ruffin said, but he cautioned that "one month does not make a trend."

Bargain hunters taking advantage of reduced prices toward the end of the holiday shopping season might account for the rise, Ruffin said. After November sales-tax receipts came in more than 20 percent below those of 2007, he had feared a similar report from December.

December sales-tax figures were not expected until next week.