Merchants sell $2.28 billion in goods for 8.1 percent increase

Monday, Dec. 21, 1998 | 2:14 a.m.

The Department of Taxation says that in the Las Vegas area, sales totaled $1.6 billion for a 10.4 percent gain.

In the Reno area, sales totaled $382.2 million for a 7.7 percent increase.

Elsewhere in Nevada, Elko County taxable sales declined by 10.1 percent over October 1997. White Pine County was down 6.4 percent, Humboldt County was down 17.6 percent, Churchill was up 12.3 percent, Douglas was up 9.7 percent and Carson City was up 6.2 percent.

Statewide, auto sales were up 8.9 percent; general merchandise sales were up 10.9 percent; furniture sales were up 13.2 percent; clothing store sales were up 11 percent; and food store sales were up 9.8 percent.

A tourism-related category, eating and drinking places, was up 11.4 percent statewide. A breakdown shows a 13.9 percent gain in the Las Vegas area and a 4.3 percent increase in the Reno area.

The state's share of sales taxes during October totaled $46.6 million, up 11.6 percent over October 1997. Sales taxes make up more than a third of state budget revenues.

Sales tax revenues have been projected to grow by more than 8 percent throughout the current fiscal year, which began July 1. The average for the fiscal year to date is 8 percent.