Taxable sales statewide see 34th month of increases

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, June 26, 2013 | 2:21 p.m.

Spurred by business in construction and automobiles, Nevada's taxable sales rose by 7.3 percent in April, the 34th straight month of an increase.

The state Tax Department reported Wednesday that taxable sales jumped to $3.78 billion, up from $3.52 billion the same month a year ago.

Clark County posted $2.69 billion in sales, a 3.7 percent gain.

Statewide, the department reported, sales of construction and garden equipment skyrocketed 112.8 percent. Car purchases rose by 16.8. But clothing and furniture store sales both fell by slightly more than 1 percent.

According to the department, sales in Washoe County increased by 8.7 percent, the fourth straight month of a gain. Carson City was off by 0.3 percent, but bars and restaurants posted an increase of 11.7 percent with the Legislature in session.

Eleven other counties recorded increases. But Lander County was down by 3.4 percent, Lincoln County was off by 50 percent, and White Pine County dropped 21 percent from April 2012.

In Clark County, sales of construction and maintenance equipment recorded a 50.9 percent gain, the largest increase since at least 2008. Auto sales jumped 18 percent compared with April 2012 and the 8.2 percent increase in March this year.

Business in bars and restaurants in Southern Nevada was up 5.9 percent, the biggest percentage gain since May 2012. But the furniture business fell by 3.6 percent and apparel stores were down 2 percent. Activity in general merchandise stores inched up 0.4 percent in Clark County