CARSON CITY -- Nevada's taxable sales growth continued at a more restrained pace in April, growing by just 4.3 percent over the same month a year ago.
It was the second month of slow growth for taxable sales, driven mostly by a drop in auto purchases. The automotive dealers and gasoline category dropped 8.4 percent in April, compared with April 2005. It had dropped 10.3 percent in March over March 2005.
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The April report was slightly better than the 4.1 percent taxable sales growth rate reported in March, which was the smallest increase in more than three years.
Keith Schwer, director of the Center for Business and Economic Research at the University of Nevada, Las Vegas, said Nevada mirrors the nation in the slowdown on auto sales.
Nationally, auto sales were down 3.9 percent in April and were down 3.6 percent for the 12 preceding months, he said.
"Of course some of it is product," Schwer said. "And gas prices are up. People are looking at the cost of travel."
With travel costs rising, cutbacks, including buying that new pricey vehicle, are sometimes put on hold, he said.
But Nevada's economy continues to perform well, Schwer said.
"The signals nationally are mixed, but the signals in Nevada remain robust," he said.
Statewide taxable sales totaled $3.9 billion in April, up 4.3 percent. For the first 10 months of the 2005-2006 fiscal year, statewide taxable sales rose 10.2 percent.
The largest increases were in the categories of eating and drinking places, up 5.4 percent; general merchandise stores, up 10.9 percent; and apparel and accessory stores, up 12.4 percent.
Other categories showing increases included wholesale trade-durable goods, up 7.6 percent, and miscellaneous retail, up 4.6 percent.
The increase in general merchandise sales was a reversal from March, when the category declined by 2.8 percent.
Clark County taxable sales totaled $2.9 billion in April, up 4.9 percent on the month and up 9.7 percent for the 10 months of the fiscal year. Clark County eating and drinking places were up 6.1 percent in April.
Washoe County taxable sales were up only by 0.8 percent in April.
Other taxable sales categories showing an increase in April included building materials and hardware, up 4.1 percent; home furniture and furnishings, up 4.6 percent; food stores, up 4.8 percent; and industrial and commercial machinery, up 18.7 percent.
Eight rural counties saw a drop in taxable sales in April, although the declines have been offset by increases in prior months.
Excise taxes, including those on cigarettes and alcohol, increased by 20 percent in April over April 2005.
