July taxable sales keep streak of increases intact
Taxable sales continued their three-year streak of increases in July.
Nevada businesses sold $4 billion in tangible goods in the month, up 6.3 percent from $3.77 billion in July 2013, the state Department of Taxation reported Tuesday.
Taxable sales in Clark County totaled $2.9 billion, an 8.8 percent gain over $2.67 billion a year earlier.
Consumer-oriented categories drove most of the county’s improvements.
Sales inside bars and restaurants — the single-biggest spending category, at 25.9 percent of the total — were $752.6 million, up 6.9 percent from $703.9 million a year earlier. Clothing and accessories retailers posted $278.7 million in sales, a 4.6 percent gain compared with $266.3 million in July 2013. And general merchandise stores, including department stores, closed on $238.4 million in goods, up 3.3 percent from $230.9 million a year ago.
Construction also saw big, local spending increases, with projects including SLS Las Vegas and downtown Summerlin helping boost summertime taxable sales in the sector. Construction-related categories saw $58 million in sales in July, a 32.7 percent spike from $43.7 million a year earlier.
Construction-related taxable sales were flat statewide, at an increase of 0.3 percent.
Gross revenue collections from sales and use taxes, which help fund schools and prisons, totaled $313 million in July, up 5.8 percent year over year. The General Fund portion was $79.7 million, up 7 percent.
Contact reporter Jennifer Robison at jrobison@reviewjournal.com. Follow @J_Robison1 on Twitter.
