Friday, April 24, 1998 | 10:25 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Taxable sales -- one indicator of the Nevada economy -- have fallen for the first time in more than two years.
The one-tenth of a percent drop in February sales comes on the heels of a report that gross revenues in Nevada casinos were down by more than 7 percent in February.
The state Taxation Department reported Thursday taxable sales totaled $1.822 billion in February, down from $1.824 billion from a year ago.
Sales in Clark County, the only one of 17 to report an increase, however, climbed 3.4 percent to $1.298 billion in February.
The department said car sales fell 9.9 percent statewide and building materials were down by 12.6 percent. But home furniture sales rose by 10.9 percent and general merchandise stores jumped 8.5 percent.
In Clark County, restaurants reported gross sales of $247.5 million, up seven-tenth of a percent. But car sales in Southern Nevada dropped 6.4 percent and building materials were off by nine-tenth of a percent.
The department reported $68.9 million in sales in home furniture in Clark County, up 11.6 percent and general merchandise stores rose 11.2 percent to $84.6 million.
So far this fiscal year, taxable sales statewide have reached $16 billion, up 3.1 percent for first seven months. Clark County business was up 5.3 percent to $10.7 billion while Washoe County reported a 2 percent gain to $2.7 billion.
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