Furniture up, construction down as businesses post October sales gains

By Cy Ryan

Published Monday, Dec. 27, 2010 | 4:27 p.m.

Updated Monday, Dec. 27, 2010 | 4:46 p.m.

CARSON CITY – Business in Clark County saw improvements in October as taxable sales increased by 2.6 percent, paced by furniture sales and sales in bars and restaurants.

It was the fourth month in the past 12 that registered a gain over the same month a year ago, topping $2.3 billion in October in Clark County.

The Nevada Department of Taxation reported Monday that statewide taxable sales rose 2.2 percent to $3.1 billion. But projections of the Economic Forum this month show sales and use tax collections are running $199,000 behind their estimate for the first four months of this fiscal year.

Furniture sales in Clark County rose 21.3 percent, the eighth consecutive month of an increase. For the sixth consecutive month, business was up in bars and restaurants by 9.4 percent in October, which was the biggest percentage increase in more than a year.

The sale of building materials continued its downward slump. The department reported a decline of 6.7 percent. It was the 24th month out of 25 that there has been a drop in Clark County.

Auto sales were up 5.6 percent, the second consecutive month of an increase. Clothing sales climbed 11.8 percent.

The agency said business was off 3.6 percent in Washoe County but rose 5.3 percent in Carson City. Ten of the state's 17 counties reported an increase.

Statewide, the department said taxes collected from the sale of cigarettes are down 0.08 percent for the first four months of this fiscal year, but the sale of other tobacco products and liquor increased by 1 percent.

Collections from the entertainment tax posted a 6 percent increase to start the fiscal year.