CARSON CITY (AP) - Taxable sales in Nevada rose 3.7 percent in August over the same month a year ago, with big gains reported in the areas of construction, accommodations and vehicles, the Department of Taxation reported.
Nevada merchants sold $3.8 billion in goods on which the state collected $297 million in gross sales and use taxes. Tax collections were up 3.1 percent from August 2012.
Sales in Clark County, Nevada's population center that includes Las Vegas, totaled nearly $2.7 billion, up 3.6 percent, while sales in northern Nevada's Washoe County climbed 6.6 percent, to $552 million.
Statewide, eight of Nevada's 17 counties recorded increased sales activity. Declines were posted in Carson City, Douglas, Elko, Esmeralda, Humboldt, Lander, Lincoln, Pershing and White Pine counties.
Lander County recorded taxable sales of $26.4 million in August, a 28.7 percent decline from the $37 million posted in August of 2012. For the fiscal year to date, Lander County's taxable sales are trailing 2012 by 16.8 percent.
Big gains were posted in construction-related sales, which were up nearly 21 percent. Home furnishings rose 10.4 percent, while accommodations, a key indicator on the health of Nevada's vital tourism industry, saw a 31.6 percent increase.
Bar and restaurant sales rose 7 percent, while sales of vehicles and parts were up 10.1 percent.
The portion of tax collections that go to the state general fund totaled $75 million, representing a 2.6 percent increase over August 2012, the report said.
But the general fund collections are off about 3 percent, or $4.6 million below projections made in May by the Economic Forum, an independent panel of business and finance experts who forecast how much money the state will have to spend in the two-year budget cycle.
Excise taxes on things such as tobacco, liquor and live entertainment brought in $25.3 million in August, up 1 percent.
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