General merchandise sales up 57 percent in Carson City in March

Nevada counties with big-box stores saw a big jump in general merchandise sales in March.

The statewide 18.6 percent increase was the result in a major jump in sales by a single retailer, said Marian Henderson of the Taxation Department. She was barred from giving specifics.

In Carson City, the increase was 57.6 percent, to $15.8 million. In Douglas County, general merchandise sales were up 23.9 percent, to $7.9 million. Clark and Washoe counties reported increases of 16.4 percent and 25.1 percent, respectively.

Even Churchill County reported a significant increase in the category — 8.7 percent, to $3.66 million.

That, along with a statewide 7.4 percent increase in car sales, helped give the state a 5 percent increase in total sales in March, to $4.1 billion.

Other categories also reported significant improvements over a year ago. Accommodations were up 36.8 percent and construction industry categories were up 115 percent as the economy continues to recover in Nevada.

Carson City reported $71.56 million in taxable sales, a 10.9 increase over a year ago. Auto sales were up significantly — 8 percent, to $19 million.

Churchill County had a record month, reporting a 117 percent increase in total sales to $49.7 million. The reason was $21.3 million worth of building construction, many times the less than $42,000 in construction reported a year earlier. No details were available to explain that increase. Churchill also had significant increases in sales of wholesale durable goods, at 44 percent; vehicle sales, 18.4 percent; and home furnishings sales, 131 percent.

Douglas County saw a 7.7 percent overall increase, to $49.5 million, aided by the general merchandise sales. But food services and drinking places, Douglas’s largest category, was up 10.1 percent to $11.6 million.

Lyon County was one of the few counties that saw a decrease in taxable sales for March. The decrease was 29 percent, to $27.1 million.

Although general merchandise sales increased 15 percent, that was more than offset by a huge reduction in electrical equipment, appliances and other manufacturing. That category saw a massive increase a year ago, when $11.1 million in sales was reported.

Storey County reported a 40.6 percent increase, to $8.45 million.

Clark County reported $2.98 billion in sales, a 6.8 percent increase. Washoe reported a 7.1 percent increase, to $498.6 million.