The state’s taxable retail sales reached nearly $31 billion in the second quarter of 2014 (April 1 – June 30), recording a 6.8 percent increase over the same period in 2013.  Retail trade, a subset of total taxable retail sales, rose 5.4 percent to $13.9 billion.

These figures are detailed in the Washington State Department of Revenue’s quarterly report of taxable retail sales. The report compares the second quarters of 2014 to 2013, which equalizes any seasonal effects of consumer purchasing habits.

Taxable sales were up in many sectors:

• New and used auto sales – 6.9 percent

• Building materials, gardening supplies and equipment – 7.5 percent

• Construction of new buildings – 9.3 percent

• E-commerce and mail order sales –20.8 percent

Second quarter 2014 results for the most populous counties:

Second quarter 2014 results for cities with the most sales

For more detailed reports on taxable retail sales and retail trade for the second quarter, visit Revenue’s Local Retails Sales 2014 page here: http://dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/StatisticsAndReports/stats_lrs2014.aspx.