Nevada taxable sales post best gain in three years

Tuesday, May 25, 1999 | 1:10 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Taxable sales, one indicator of Nevada's business economy, rose 14.5 percent to $2.6 billion in March, the biggest percentage gain in at least three years.

The state Department of Taxation reported today that for the first nine months of this fiscal year, taxable sales increased by 9.5 percent.

The Economic Forum, which met last month, predicted sales tax revenues would rise only 8.7 percent this fiscal year which ends June 30th.

The big increase in March was fueled by a strong showing in the restaurant and bar business, up 16 percent; miscellaneous retail sales, up 21.7 percent and home furniture sales up 37.2 percent.

Merchants in Clark County posted $1.8 billion in taxable sales, a gain of 16.7 percent. That's the biggest percentage increase for the county since December 1996.

Eating and drinking businesses in Southern Nevada registered a 19.5 percent increase.

Washoe County sales rose 10.6 percent, its best showing in at least two years. Sales reached $415.7 million in the month.

Carson City merchants reported $66.4 million in sales, up 16.6 percent; Douglas County rose 19.4 percent to $43.3 million and Nye County jumped 21 percent to $26.9 million.

The breakdown statewide shows car sales up 9.8 percent; general merchandise stores up 15.3 percent; building materials and hardware stores had an increase of 10.6 percent; the clothing business enjoyed an 11.7 percent in business compared to March 1998 and wholesale trade rose 7.4 percent.