Monday, July 22, 2002 | 11:06 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- The state Tax Department reported taxable sales in Southern Nevada fell 2.2 percent in May to $1.9 billion, compared to the same month a year ago.
Car purchases, which shot up 11.1 percent in April, inched up only 0.4 percent in May to $279.9 million. But for only the second time this year, sales in apparel stores rose -- by 5 percent in May to $92.8 million.
The department said purchases of building material fell 12.3 percent to $113.5 million. It was the fourth straight month of decline. Furniture sales dropped 2.4 percent to $100.3 million. The bar and restaurant business was off 0.1 percent to $421.4 million.
Sales in general merchandise stores rose 7 percent to $162.4 million.
Statewide merchants sold $2.6 billion in taxable goods, down 1.9 percent. There has been a decline in sales in three of the first five months of this year.
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