County taxable sales continue downward trend

Nye County continues to see double-digit declines in taxable sales, which trends against the increases seen statewide.

The county’s businesses sold $41.4 million in tangible goods in November, a 17.6 percent decrease from the same month in 2013, according to the state Department of Taxation.

Motor vehicle and parts dealers sales, driven by lower gas prices, were $5.8 million for the month, an increase 27.3 percent from year-to-year. Category sales are up 5.7 percent to $27.1 million the first five months of the fiscal year, which began July 1.

General merchandise storessales totaled $4.7 million, a 3.1 percent increase year-to-year. Store sales are also down 1.3 percent to $20 million this fiscal year.

Restaurants and bars sales totaled $3.2 million, a decrease of 3 percent year-to-year. However, the number is up 4.2 percent to $16.6 million for the fiscal year.

Other top sales categories for the month included chemical manufacturing ($2.8 million, down 6.4 percent), building materials and garden equipment ($2.4 million, up 3.8 percent) and merchant wholesalers of durable goods ($2.3 million, down 25.8 percent).

The largest dollar decrease came from specialty trade contractors, which saw a 90.5 percent decrease from $11.1 million in 2013 to $1.06 million this November due to completion of construction of the Crescent Dunes solar project in Tonopah.

Overall county sales revenue for the fiscal year starting July 1 are down 30.6 percent to $198.2 million.

Statewide businesses sold $3.97 billion in the month, up 6.9 percent from $3.71 billion in November 2013.