December taxable sales up 17 percent

Driven by a 37 percent increase in accommodations, statewide taxable sales rose 10.2 percent in December 2014.

Total sales in the state topped $4.86 billion with 12 of the state’s 17 counties reporting increases over December 2013.

In Churchill, auto sales increased 21.5 percent. The repair and maintenance category saw a 264 percent increase to $2.55 million and administrative and support services increased 213 percent to $1.13 million. Total reported sales were $34.3 million for a 17 percent gain over the same time in 2013. Again, accommodations, while a small number, were up significantly — 72.7 percent to $20,978.

Comptroller Alan Kalt, though, said he is concerned with three reporting areas and wants the Nevada Department of Taxation to review those figures. In question are Furniture and Home Furnishing Stores, which saw a 1,000 percent gain to $6.8 million; Administrative and Support Services; and Repair and Maintenance, which more than tripled for a 264 percent increase.

Overall, though, Kalt said the major reason for the improvement is coming from those three reporting areas along with a handful of others.

General Merchandise reflected the Christmas season and showed a 2.8 percent increase to $4.7 million. Sporting Goods rose 104 percent to $344,887. Credit Intermediation and Related Activities grew from $12,368 to almost $400,000. Food Services jumped 9.1 percent to $2.7 million.

Carson City businesses reported $78.9 million in sales, a 3.9 percent increase.

But the surrounding counties in western Nevada did significantly better. Douglas was up 21.3 percent, Washoe (8.2 percent) and Lyon (7 percent) also saw nice increases.

Carson City would have done much better in total sales except the capital’s largest sales tax generator, auto sales, actually fell 10 percent to $16.9 million.

That was largely offset by a 56.8 percent increase in building materials sales which reported $7.1 million. Accommodations generated a 21.7 percent increase to $41,060.

Douglas reported a 54.6 percent increase in wholesale durable goods to $4.27 million, 22.3 percent increase in auto sales and a 15.6 percent increase to $9.67 million by food services and drinking places — Douglas’s largest tax generator. Total sales were $65.8 million.

Accommodations were up an astronomical 12,000 percent to $981,078.

Lyon County reported a 25 percent increase in auto sales and a 23.8 percent increase in building material sales. Total sales were $33.2 million.

In Washoe County, wholesale durable goods rose 20.8 percent to $43.3 million, specialty trade contractors 65 percent to $1.16 million, building material sales 21.4 percent to $28.1 million and professional, scientific and technical services nearly 80 percent to $33.8 million. Total sales were $675.6 million.

Clark County reported a 10.9 percent increase to $3.6 billion.

LVN Editor Steve Ranson assisted with Churchill County figures.