Washington’s taxable retail sales increased to $33.2 billion for the third quarter of 2014, a 7.3 percent over the same July to September period in 2013, the Department of Revenue said Friday. Retail trade, a subset of total taxable retail sales, rose 5.5 percent to $14.6 billion in the same period.
Vancouver and Clark County both exceeded the statewide percentage increases. The county reported a 9.5 percent increase in taxable retail sales, to $1.4 billion, and a 9.7 percent increase in the narrower category of retail trade, to $633 million. Vancouver saw a 9.7 percent increase in both categories, to $789 million in taxable retail sales and $366 million in retail trade.
Statewide, taxable sales in e-commerce and mail orders were up nearly 20 percent from the same quarter a year ago. Lawn and garden supply sales were up 16.5 percent, while sales by RV, boat and motorcycle sales climbed by 14.6 percent. Sales in the building construction category rose by almost 10 percent.
The state reported a 14 percent decline in retail sales in agriculture, forestry and fishing.
The quarterly report was the first to include sales of marijuana in taxable retail sales. Statewide, the department reported $19 million in marijuana sales. The only two stores that were open in Clark County in that period, both in Vancouver, reported $2.6 million in taxable sales.
