Despite taxable sales in Nye County remaining almost the same compared to last year, automobile sales continued to see strong numbers.
Motor vehicle and parts dealers saw $5.47 million in taxable sales in April, a 37.7 percent increase from the same time last year, with $3.98 million in sales. Taxable sales in Nye County reached around $40.6 million in April according to the Nevada Department of Taxation, just under last year’s mark of $40.7 million at the same time.
The increase in vehicle sales continues the trend that began in January of this year, with taxable sales amounts eclipsing the previous year each month in 2015. Overall taxable motor vehicle and parts dealer sales are up 22.7 percent in 2015, with the highest increase over last year taking place in April.
Local dealership owner Don Trudeau of Saitta Trudeau Chrysler Jeep Dodge, said his numbers would support the findings.
“Around the 20 percent range seems about accurate to reflect our business,” Trudeau said. “It’s just a reflection of our improving economy.”
The improved economy is something Trudeau personally thinks has to do with business over the hump more so than in town, as many Pahrump residents commute back and forth to Las Vegas for work.
“My belief is the improving economy in Las Vegas is flowing into our community,” he said. “I think there are a lot more jobs in Pahrump, but I think a lot of the commuters have either gotten jobs in Las Vegas, or gotten better jobs there.”
Trudeau explained he thought that was due to job growth not quite reaching the same level in town as opposed to Las Vegas.
Greg Mier, general manager of the Pahrump Valley Auto Plaza concurs, as he said he’s also seen increased sales this year.
“We have seen an increase of sales in Pahrump,” Mier said. “We’re pretty fortunate, we’re actually on the new car side, the fastest growing in Southern Nevada for a Chevy or GMC dealer.”
Mier sees increased confidence in the economy and factory incentives being the leading factors to the heightened sales.
“Things like additional rebates or zero percent financing, those tend to help sales,” Mier said.
Trudeau doesn’t see anything the dealership is doing as a catalyst to the increase, although they hold various events throughout the year.
“A lot of time weâll have sales that are matched around other events on the calendar like Fourth of July, or our dealership anniversary, I would say not more than the normal year, although business is up more than the normal year.”
With the sales numbers up over last year’s each month this year, Mier said he doesn’t see things changing anytime soon.
“I think we’ll see continued growth through the rest of the year over last year,” Mier said. “Just because of the overall feeling of how the first half of the year has gone.”
Trudeau also sees the stronger than usual sales continuing as long as there are no financial disasters like some taking place in other areas of the world or in the U.S.
“My honest opinion is that it is going to continue, but I think it’s fragile,” he said. “Something that is going on in Greece right now could affect it if it spreads.”