State's taxable sales up; Carson's down

Taxable sales posted a solid 9.6 percent increase statewide in November - a total of $3.39 billion.

Carson City wasn't as fortunate. Sales in the capital fell 1.6 percent to $57.66 million.

"It's a soft economy," said city Finance Director Nick Providenti. "Basically we're just bumping along the bottom."

But more than anything, November was up against a tough comparison, since Carson saw an increase of 13.6 percent in November 2010 with a 20.6 percent increase in auto sales and 15 percent up for general merchandise stores.

This past November auto sales were up about $1 million to $13.4 million - 7.4 percent. But that was neatly offset by a $1.2 million decrease in sales by wholesalers of durable goods. That category includes sales of such things as machinery, autos, furniture and construction materials by one business to another.

And general merchandise sales this November were down 2.6 percent.

Statewide, food services and drinking places posted a 7.5 percent gain.

With construction ongoing on a gas pipeline across Northern Nevada and several other projects, utilities reported a 197 percent gain in total sales. Motor vehicle sales were up 19.6 percent statewide.

Of the major categories, only construction-related classifications were down, 15.9 percent.

Other than Carson City, the only counties down compared to a year ago were Humboldt (5 percent) and White Pine (8.1 percent).

Churchill County was up 9.2 percent to $21.7 million. The big items there were a 67.8 percent increase in auto sales to $2.54 million, a 14.6 percent increase in building material sales to $1.79 million, and a 14.5 percent increase to $2.5 million by food services and drinking places.

Douglas County reported $43.57 million in taxable sales, just a half percent up from a year ago.

Storey County's taxable sales increased a whopping 120 percent to $7.79 million. Machinery manufacturing and merchant wholesales of durable goods both reported increases of more than 100 percent.

Washoe County reported $430.36 million in sales, up 5.3 percent from November 2010 with solid if single digit increases in a long variety of categories.

County Taxable Sales Change from 11/11

Statewide $3.39 billion 9.6%

Carson City $57.67 million -1.6%

Churchill $21.7 million 9.2%

Douglas $43.57 million 0.5%

Lyon $22.89 million 11.4%

Storey $7.79 million 120%

Washoe $430.36 million 5.3%

Clark County $2.47 billion 8.6%