Thursday, Sept. 23, 2004 | 11:03 a.m.
CARSON CITY -- Taxable sales, one indication of the economy, rose by 14.8 percent in Nevada in July, the seventh straight month of a double-digit increase.
The state Department of Taxation reported today taxable sales for the month reached $3.4 billion, fueled by hefty sales of cars and building materials.
Gov. Kenny Guinn said "The strong sales tax revenue is good news for our general fund after the most recent gaming figures took a slight dip." Gaming win in July fell by 1.5 percent.
"Nevada continues to lead the nation in job creation and population growth," the governor said. "The latest sales tax numbers are the result of our business friendly environment and a strong economy."
The department reported the state received $70.9 million from its two percent share of the sales tax, up 18.7 percent from a year ago. Total sales tax collections reached $259.5 million, up 21.6 percent. School districts and local governments share in the receipts.
Clark County reported taxable sales of $2.5 billion, up 16.5 percent in July compared with a year ago, also the seventh consecutive month for a double-digit increase.
Statewide automobile sales reached $582.3 million, up 13.3 percent. And the sale of building materials skyrocketed 32.3 percent to $274.3 million.
The taxation department reported wholesale trade in durable goods produced $216.7 million, up 19.1 percent; sales in general merchandise stores rose 22.7 percent to $234.5 million; clothing stores reported $134.7 million, up 17.5 percent; home furniture business was up 16.9 percent to $187.4 million and eating and drinking places had $622.9 million in sales, up 7.8 percent.
The department said wholesale trade in durable goods in Clark County rose 18.9 percent to $143.6 million; business in general merchandise stores skyrocketed 30.4 percent to $209.1 million and clothing stores reported $119.9 million in sales, up 18.5 percent.
The home furniture business in Clark County produced taxable sales of $141.6 million, up 15.7 percent and bars and restaurants produced $507.7 million in sales, up 8 percent from a year ago.
Taxable sales in Washoe County increased 10.1 percent to $536 million; Carson City inched up 2.5 percent to $80.7 million; Douglas County gained 10.6 percent to $68.5 million and Elko County reported $64.3 million, an increase of only 0.2 percent.
Taxable sales were down in Esmeralda County by 11.2 percent; in Eureka County by 14.4 percent and Mineral County, 5 percent.
The department said the state received $7.5 million in taxes in July from the sale of cigarettes, up 11.1 percent. The cigarette tax was increased by 45 cents per pack, effective July 22 of 2003. The agency said the collections from the cigarette tax are lagging about 50 percent below the overall forecast for the first month of this fiscal year.
The liquor tax in July yielded $3 million up 24.1 percent. The liquor tax was also raised 75 percent effective in August 2003 and collections are about 1.4 percent higher than the forecast for July.
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