Clark County taxable sales rise slightly

Thursday, Oct. 24, 2002 | 11:05 a.m.

CARSON CITY -- Clark County merchants, buoyed by robust auto sales and increases in bar and restaurant businesses, registered modest gains in August in taxable sales, one indicator of the economy.

The state Taxation Department reported Wednesday taxable sales in Clark County grew 1.6 percent to $1.968 billion compared to the same month of 2001. This was the second straight month of an increase compared to May and June when there were declines.

Southern Nevada car dealers reported $320.1 million in taxable sales, up 14.3 percent from a year ago. It was the second straight month the auto business has posted a double-digit gain. It was 15.5 percent in July.

The bar and restaurant business posted its best percentage gain of the year, reporting sales of $421.9 million, up 4.1 percent. This was the third straight month of higher sales compared to a year ago.

But sales of building supplies dropped for the seventh straight month in Southern Nevada.

Statewide, the department said taxable sales reached $2.7 billion, a 0.6 percent increase over August 2001 and a 1.5 percent increase for the first two months of the fiscal year. The Economic Forum, which predicts tax collections for the state, had forecast a 5.8 percent increase this fiscal year.

Gov. Kenny Guinn, after reviewing the latest statistics, said, "Once again the modest gains for August and this additional six month comparison highlights the challenge we face in meeting the current year's revenue needs."

Guinn said tax collections are not keeping pace with the population growth and the state must have additional revenue.

In Clark County, home furniture sales rose 7.4 percent to $106.6 million; apparel stores increased 3.6 percent to $97.3 million in sales; general merchandise sales rose 6.2 percent to $162.7 million and food stores posted a 0.3 percent gain to $70.5 million.

But there were weaknesses in wholesale trade-durable goods, building materials and miscellaneous retail.

The department said sale of durable goods dropped 7.2 percent to $101 million; building materials was off 10.7 percent to $107.5 million and miscellaneous retail dropped 5.6 percent to $197.6 million.

The agency said statewide sales of durable goods fell 6.9 percent; building materials was off 7.8 percent; food store sales dropped 4.5 percent and miscellaneous retail declined 5.8 percent.

Auto sales jumped 13 percent; apparel stores grew 4 percent and eating and drinking businesses posted a 4.1 percent gain in sales.

For the fourth straight month, sales declined in Washoe County where merchants reported taxable sales of $463.3 million for August, down 1.4 percent from a year ago.

The department said taxable sales in Douglas County grew 10.3 percent to $58.6 million; Elko County was off 13.7 percent down to $61 million; Carson City increased sales to $78.3 million, up 2.7 percent, and Nye County businesses reported sales of $23.9 million, up 0.7 percent.