OLYMPIA – July 19, 2012 – Taxable retail sales increased 4.7 percent to $24.1 billion during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, the Washington State Department of Revenue reported today.
Retail Trade increased 4.2 percent to $11.1 billion over the first quarter of 2011. Retail trade is a subset of all taxable retail sales that includes retailers but excludes other industries such as services and construction.
Among major industries, construction was up 8 percent to $3.4 billion, accommodations and food services increased 6.6 percent to $2.8 billion, motor vehicles and parts rose 9.7 percent to $2.6 billion, and general merchandise stores were up 1.9 percent to $2.2 billion.
Results for the most populous counties:
| |
Taxable retail sales |
% change |
Retail trade |
% change |
| King |
$9.5 billion |
5.7% |
$3.9 billion |
4.6% |
| Pierce |
$2.5 billion |
2.4% |
$1.3 billion |
4.1% |
| Snohomish |
$2.3 billion |
5.0% |
$1.2 billion |
5.6% |
| Spokane |
$1.6 billion |
4.4% |
$788 million |
3.1% |
| Clark |
$994 million |
7.1% |
$458 million |
6.0% |
Results for cities with the most sales:
| |
Taxable retail sales |
% change |
Retail trade |
% change |
| Seattle |
$3.8 billion |
9.72% |
$1.2 billion |
5.9% |
| Bellevue |
$1.1 billion |
(-0.1%) |
$545 million |
6.1% |
| Tacoma |
$932 million |
2.4% |
$482 million |
4.5% |
| Spokane |
$854 million |
4.9% |
$410 million |
2.4% |
| Vancouver |
$581 million |
6.2% |
$258 million |
5.6% |
Taxable retail sales and retail trade by county and city, and a breakdown of sales statewide by industries are available here.
Results for all counties and selected cities, including breakdowns of sales by industry sector, are available here.
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