September’s taxable sales up statewide

Statewide taxable sales were up 4.2 percent in September to $3.73 billion.But despite a strong month for car sales and food and drinking places in Carson City, the capital city was essentially flat at a half percent increase over September 2011, according to a state Taxation Department report.Car sales, Carson’s largest sales tax generator, increased 14.7 percent over the previous September to $15.9 million; and food and drinking places reported an 8.9 percent increase to $7.48 million.But those gains were eaten away by double-digit decreases in a long list of smaller, primarily manufacturing, categories including food, beverage and tobacco manufacturing, textiles, leather, wood and paper products as well as metal fabrication categories, computers and transportation equipment.In the end, the capital produced taxable sales of $62.45 million — just over $300,000 more than a year ago.Statewide, auto sales were up 13.3 percent increase, building material sales were up 33 percent and telecommunications sales up 95.3 percent. The vast majority of the telecommunications equipment increase was in Clark County.Douglas County had a strong month with an 11.2 percent increase in sales to $54.5 million. Food services and drinking places had a solid 6.9 percent increase to $12.7 million. General merchandise stores were flat at $6.4 million. Building material sales doubled to $4 million and auto sales jumped 55 percent to $3.1 million. Wholesalers of durable goods reporting a 44 percent increase to $3.7 million.Washoe County reported a 9.1 percent increase to $489 million for September. That included a 21.6 percent increase in auto sales, to $66.1 million. Like Clark, Washoe saw some big telecommunications purchases in September — a 66 percent increase to $7.8 million. And professional, scientific and technical services reported a 26 percent increase to $14.8 million.Nine of Nevada’s 17 counties saw decreases in September, including Churchill County where sales of $40.7 million represented a 21.4 percent drop. The biggest culprit was a 92.5 percent drop in utility purchases, from $30.1 million to $2.25 million. Purchases to complete the Ruby gas pipeline a year ago artificially inflated utility categories in a number of Northern Nevada’s rural counties including Churchill.Lyon County suffered a major hit, dropping from $32.5 million to $13.3 million, a decrease of 59.2 percent. The main reason for the drop was in the electrical equipment, appliance category which went from a positive $2.3 million in sales a year ago to a negative $15.8 million this September.CountyTaxable SalesChange from 9/11Statewide$3.73 billion4.2%Carson City$62.45 million0.5%Churchill$40.68 million-21.4%Douglas$54.5 million11.2%Lyon$13.26 million-59.2%Storey$7.64 million42.3%Washoe$489 million 9.1%Clark County$2.69 billion4.9%