Nevada’s taxable sales increase 8.3 percent

Nevadans started 2015 in a spending mood, boosting outlays in areas ranging from cars to meals out.

Taxable sales across the state totaled $3.81 billion in January, up 8.3 percent from $3.52 billion in January 2014, the state Department of Taxation reported Friday.

Sales in Clark County totaled $2.86 billion, an 8.9 percent gain compared with $2.63 billion a year earlier.

Some of the strongest local sales increases were in consumer-oriented categories.

The biggest spending sector — bars and restaurants, with nearly 28 percent of all sales — surged 8.6 percent, to $796.2 million.

Dealers of cars and car parts posted a sales gain of 11 percent, to $324.5 million. Home-related categories were up as well: Furniture retailers’ sales rose 7 percent, to $54.9 million. Electronics and appliance stores experienced a 24 percent spike, to $98.5 million. Sellers of building materials and garden supplies saw an 8.7 percent jump, to $92.4 million.

Construction-related sales totaled $46.4 million, up 7.5 percent from a year earlier.

Gross revenue collections from sales and use taxes, which help fund prisons and schools, were $300.1 million in January. That was up 8.3 percent from a year ago. The General Fund share of $76 million was up 8.6 percent.

But the General Fund portion was 0.84 percent, or $5 million, below forecasts of the Economic Forum, a nonpartisan group that projects revenue for state budgets.

Contact Jennifer Robison at jrobison@reviewjournal.com. Find on Twitter: @J_Robison1.