Taxable retail sales increase 4.7 percent in second quarter of 2012

Taxable retail sales increased 4.7 percent to $26.8 billion during the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, the Washington State Department of Revenue reported today.

Taxable retail sales increased 4.7 percent to $26.8 billion during the second quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, the Washington State Department of Revenue reported today.

Retail trade increased 5.3 percent to $12.3 billion over the second 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 7 percent to $3.9 billion, accommodations and food services increased 5.4 percent to $3.2 billion, motor vehicles and parts rose 12.9 percent to $2.9 billion, and general merchandise stores were up 2.1 percent to $2.4 billion.

 

Taxable retail sales and retail trade by county and city, and a breakdown of sales statewide by industries are available at http://dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/newsroom/2012/trs-q22012.aspx.

Results for all counties and selected cities, including breakdowns of sales by industry sector, are available at http://dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/StatisticsAndReports/2012/qbr212/default.aspx.

Results for the most populous counties:

 

Taxable retail sales

% change

Retail trade

% change

King

$10.6 billion

6.4%

$4.2 billion

6.1%

Pierce

$2.7 billion

4.4%

$1.4 billion

4.9%

Snohomish

$2.5 billion

4.9%

$1.4 billion

7.6%

Spokane

$1.8 billion

2.0%

$883 million

3.7%

Clark

$1.1billion

5.7%

$505 million

5.5%

Results for cities with the most sales:

 

Taxable retail sales

% change

Retail trade

% change

Seattle

$4.3 billion

10.3%

$1.3 billion

4.8%

Bellevue

$1.3 billion

7.2%

$636 million

13.7%

Tacoma

$996 million

5.1%

$506 million

4.0%

Spokane

$963 million

6.4%

$452 million

4.0%

Vancouver

$623 million

5.8%

$274 million

4.5%