Nevada economy picking up

Thursday, June 20, 2002 | 11:17 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Taxable sales in Nevada rose to $2.6 billion in April, a 2.7 percent gain from April 2001 and the largest percentage increase since last October.

The state Department of Taxation reported today that business in April reversed two straight months of declining sales activity statewide.

Clark County merchants reported a 2.5 percent increase in taxable sales to $1.9 billion. This is the highest percentage gain since the terrorist attacks Sept. 11.

Statewide, the increase was fueled by sale of cars, which jumped 11.7 percent. General merchandise stores increased 7.6 percent; restaurants and bars recorded a 2 percent gain from April 2001 and sale of building materials inched up 0.9 percent.

The department reported, however, that business in food stores dropped 5.6 percent during April; sales in clothing stores were off 1 percent and home furniture activity fell by 6.2 percent.

The agency said the last time the statewide taxable sales figures were above 2.7 percent was in October, when they rose 2.9 percent as auto dealers offered no-interest financing. Three of the five months since then have registered decreases in business activity.

For this fiscal year, taxable sales statewide are up 0.5 percent to $26.2 billion. This is far short of the 6.1 percent increased predicted by the Economic Forum, which was used for adopting the state's budget.

The gain in Clark County was due largely to increased car sales, up 11.1 percent to $257.21 million. Business in general merchandise stores rose 8 percent to $161.9 million. And eating and drinking places posted $428.5 million in taxable sales, up 1.7 percent from last year. Food stores registered a slight gain of .9 percent to $74.2 million.

But the sale of building materials in Southern Nevada fell by 3.3 percent to $126.3 million; miscellaneous retail was off 2.4 percent to $195.5 million and home furniture business dropped 9 percent to $99.1 million.

The department reported taxable sales in Washoe County increased .9 percent to $415.3 million; Carson City grew 13.9 percent to $72.3 million; Douglas County was up 2.2 percent to $42.5 million and Elko County inched up .8 percent to $57.6 million.