Nevada taxable sales up 8 percent in May

By Cy Ryan

Wednesday, July 30, 2014 | 4:49 p.m.

CARSON CITY — Taxable sales, one indicator of the economy, rose by 8 percent in May compared to the same month a year ago, spurred by business in Clark and Washoe counties.

The state Department of Taxation reported today, however, that sales fell in ten of Nevada’s 17 counties.

Statewide, taxable sales rose to $4.2 billion, up from $3.9 billion from in May 2013.

Clark County posted a 12.7 percent gain to $3.2 billion, and Washoe County was up 11.7 percent to $559.6 million.

The department said sales at general merchandise stores jumped 37.8 percent statewide, but the construction industry was off 23.1 percent. Car sales were up 9.4 percent and bars and restaurants rose 6.6 percent.

Sales in rural Nevada suffered during the month, led by Humboldt County, down 48.9 percent, and Pershing County, off 35.3 percent.

In Clark County, miscellaneous manufacturing sales jumped 83.1 percent to $36.5 million. Heavy construction and engineering construction sales rose 48.8 percent to $9.5 million.

Car sales reached $373.2 million, up 13.4 percent in Clark County and bars and restaurants reported $861.2 million in taxable sales, a gain of 6.6 percent.

The state received $83.2 million from sales tax collections, a gain of 6.4 percent.