Highlights of May sales by Nevada merchants

Wednesday, July 21, 1999 | 1:12 a.m.

A breakdown of the state Taxation Department's latest sales report shows:

-Las Vegas area up 12 percent, with sales totaling nearly $1.7 billion in May.

-Reno-area sales up 7.4 percent, totaling about $401 million.

-Increases outside urban centers of Reno and Las Vegas, including gains of 7.1 percent in Carson City, 4.8 percent in Churchill County, 4.4 percent in Douglas County, and 1.2 percent in Humboldt County.

-Decreases in several other outlying counties. That included Elko, down 5.1 percent; and White Pine, down 7.3 percent.

-Statewide gains in auto sales, up 11.6 percent; general merchandise sales, up 16 percent; building supply sales, up 7.1 percent; and home furnishing sales, up 23.4 percent.

-Sales in bars and restaurants, gauges of tourist traffic, were up 14.7 percent statewide. A breakdown shows an 18.3 percent gain in the Las Vegas area and a 2.3 percent increase in the Reno area.

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