Las Vegas Sun

March 28, 2024

February sales hits $1.1 billion in Clark County

CARSON CITY -- Spurred by strong auto sales and construction, merchants in Clark County enjoyed a banner February, ringing up sales of $1.1 billion, an 18.9 percent gain over a year ago.

"It just keeps rolling on," said Michael Pitlock, director of the state Department of Taxation.

Statewide, he said, taxable sales reached $1.7 billion, up 16.7 percent.

The department reported $124.2 million was collected in sales taxes, up $19.3 million or 18.4 percent for the month. This money is distributed to the state, school districts and local government.

This is the fifth month in the last eight months of this fiscal year that there's been double-digit increases in taxable sales statewide.

"It's a continuation of the strong construction of big projects," Pitlock said. "This affects the rest of the economy including the residential market."

It was the second straight month both the state and Clark County enjoyed double-digit growth. And for the first eight months of this fiscal year, taxable sales in Clark County are up by 12.2 percent.

"This is great news but it's also a little scary," Pitlock said. "You wonder how long this can continue. It keeps growing. There doesn't appear to be any end in sight."

Other parts of the nation, Pitlock said, would be happy to record growth of 3 to 4 percent.

Automobile sales "are going crazy," Pitlock said, noting they are up 31 percent statewide. Taxable sales on building materials jumped 25.8 percent and home furniture and furnishings were up 19.5 percent.

Washoe County posted taxable sales of $289.5 million, up 9.2 percent; Carson City registered $41.3 million, up 4.4 percent; Elko County business jumped 15 percent to $53.9 million and merchants in Nye County reported $20.4 million in taxable sales, up 14.8 percent.

The taxation department said eating and drinking places statewide inched up 3.8 percent. The bar and restaurant business in Clark County inched up 3.9 percent and was up 3.4 percent in Washoe County.

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