During The Second Quarter Of 2015, Retail Performance In The Tri Cities Was The Best In Three Years. Compared To 2014, Bristol Sales Jumped 15.2 Percent, Kingsport Sales Rose 6.3 Percent, And Johnson City Sales Were Up 6.2 Percent. That According To The Latest Retail Sales Report Prepared By East Tennessee State University’s College Of Business. ETSU Economist Dr. Steb Hipple Said The Strong Retail Growth In The Regional Economy Matches The Continued Employment Growth In The Tri Cities And The Business Outlook For The Region Remains Positive.