OLYMPIA – April 6, 2011 – Holiday shoppers in more of a spending mood boosted Retail Trade sales by 5.8 percent during the fourth quarter of 2010, according to a Washington State Department of Revenue report issued today.
Sales by retailers reached $12.9 billion compared to $12.2 billion during the fourth quarter of 2009. Overall taxable retail sales, which include sales by retailers, the construction industry and other industry sectors, rose a smaller 2.9 percent to $26.8 billion.
While Retail Trade sales were up over the fourth quarters of both 2009 and 2008, they are still below the fourth quarters of 2006 and 2007. Overall taxable retail sales are up over 2009 but lower than 2005 through 2008 (see chart).
Among major industries, taxable sales by the Construction sector declined by 6.8 percent to $4.1 billion. Accommodations and Food Services rose 6.3 percent to $2.7 billion. Among retailers, New and Used Auto Dealers were up 11.7 percent to $1.9 billion, Building Materials, Garden Equipment & Supplies increased 2.2 percent to $964 million, and General Merchandise Stores rose 3 percent to $2.1 billion.
Results for the most populous counties:
| |
Taxable retail sales |
% change |
Retail trade |
% change |
| King |
$10.4 billion |
2.4% |
$4.5 billion |
5.9% |
| Pierce |
$2.8 billion |
5.0% |
$1.5 billion |
7.9% |
| Snohomish |
$2.6 billion |
2.0% |
$1.4 billion |
6.0% |
| Spokane |
$1.8 billion |
0.6% |
$926 million |
1.7% |
| Clark |
$1.1 billion |
6.2% |
$525 million |
6.1% |
Results for cities with the most sales:
| |
Taxable retail sales |
% change |
Retail trade |
% change |
| Seattle |
$3.9 billion |
2.6% |
$1.4 billion |
7.5% |
| Bellevue |
$1.3 billion |
-2.2% |
$673 million |
2.5% |
| Tacoma |
$1.0 billion |
8.5% |
$532 million |
10.4% |
| Spokane |
$978 million |
0.7% |
$492 million |
-0.7% |
| Everett |
$621 million |
3.3% |
$305 million |
5.1% |
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/2011/trs-q42010.aspx.
The full report is available at http://www.dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/StatisticsAndReports/2010/qbr410/Default.aspx .
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