Taxable sales up slightly in Nevada

Thursday, Jan. 18, 2001 | 5:48 a.m.

Statewide sales of taxable goods reached $2.44 billion, up $78 million from November 1999. In the Las Vegas area, sales totaled $1.77 billion for a 4.1 percent gain; and in the Reno area sales totaled $395.4 million, up 3 percent.

But business in much of the rest of the state was bleak as 10 of the state's 17 counties showed declines in sales compared with November 1999.

The declines included a 32 percent drop in White Pine County and a 10.6 percent drop in Humboldt County.

Carson City, where a Costco store opened in November, showed a 7.8 percent increase in sales, the largest in the state. Douglas County sales were up 6.6 percent; and sales in Elko County were up 2.1 percent.

Statewide, general merchandise stores in November posted an 8.2 percent increase in sales, while sales by auto dealers were up 5.3 percent and restaurant-bar sales jumped by 4.6 percent.

The sales report follows a recent report that gambling-related tax revenue dropped by 14.7 percent in November and has been flat since June.

About 75 percent of the state government's tax revenue comes from gambling and sales taxes.

Because of recent poor months, the tax revenue received by state government has fallen below projections made Nov. 30 by the Economic Forum, an independent group of business executives who determine how much the state government can spend.