Nevada taxable sales rise in June

Wednesday, Aug. 26, 1998 | 11:10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Taxable sales, one indicator of the Nevada economy, rose by 4.5 percent in June, the second highest increase in the 1998 fiscal year ending June 30.

The state Taxation Department reported Tuesday sales statewide reached $2.2 billion. In Clark County sales totaled $1.5 billion, up 6.3 percent. That increase tied with March as the second-best showing for the fiscal year.

Car sales statewide led the growth, up 23.1 percent, followed by general merchandise stores where business jumped 11.3 percent compared with June of a year ago and building material purchases, up 8 percent.

Bar and restaurant sales rose 2.7 percent statewide but were up by 4 percent in Clark County.

The two sour notes statewide were in metal mining, down 46.7 percent; and building construction; which fell 14.4 percent.

In the month-to-month comparison sales in Washoe County rose to $405.3 million, up 8.7 percent, the largest gain since March 1997. Business in Carson City jumped 12.3 percent to $65.3 million. This was the highest percentage gain in Carson City in at least the last two years.

Sales in Elko County in June were off by 13 percent but rose 2.9 percent in Douglas County.

The department said taxable sales for fiscal 1998 rose 3.4 percent, far below the 8.5 percent predicted by the Economic Forum on which the state budget is based.