Driven by the rebirth of the construction industry, taxable sales increased 11.8 percent in January to just under $4.3 billion.
Carson City saw a 6.2 percent increase to $70.9 million for the month. Building material sales helped considerably with a 21 percent increase to $7.68 million while the capital’s largest sales generator, auto sales, rose 8.8 percent to $20.3 million.
With the legislature’s pre-session meetings under way, Eating and Drinking Places reported a 2.5 percent increase to $7.8 million.
Storey County, with major developments and commitments at the Tahoe Reno Industrial Center, reported increased taxable sales of $112.4 million compared to just $20.8 million in January 2016. Much of that construction is in the major developments by Tesla, Panasonic and Switch.
Beyond Storey, Mineral County was up 70 percent to $3.99 million. Specialty Trade Contractors reported a 450 percent gain to $210,327 and machinery Manufacturing went from nearly $700,000 in the red a year ago to $113,375 this January.
Eureka too posted a major increase, up 52 percent to $19.6 million. Much of the increase came in categories related to Eureka’s mining industry.
Churchill County had a 14.9 percent increase to $26.4 million in January. The majority of the increase was in just one category: Utilities. Taxable sales there went from $586,083 a year ago to $6.26 million this January. Churchill also saw a 78 percent increase in wholesale durable goods to $1.57 million.
Douglas County had a 5.9 percent increase to $48.99 million despite an 8 percent drop in its largest taxable sales category, Food Services and Drinking Places — the Tahoe casinos. That category was $12.3 million for the month.
But auto sales helped out with a 13.6 percent increase to $2.68 million
Lyon County continued to struggle in January, reporting a 6.3 percent decrease in sales to just more than $24 million. The damage can be blamed on the Miscellaneous Store Retailers category that recorded a $2.6 million negative sales number. Unfortunately, statute prohibits Taxation officials from explaining that payback.
Clark County reported a 10.4 percent increase to $3.18 billion while Washoe County was up 5.5 percent for the month to $556.4 million.
Altogether, 11 of Nevada’s 17 counties recorded increases in January.