Nevada Merchants sell $2.33 billion in goods during November

State revenues from taxes on the sales amounted to $47.4 million, up 7.9 percent for the month, according to a Taxation Department report released Monday.

When sales taxes for local governments and schools are added in, the November tax total climbs to $170.3 million.

Excise taxes also were collected on some of the November sales, for items such as cigarettes, liquor and fuel. That plus tax collections from estates brought in another $36.7 million.

The latest report on Nevada sales follows a recent Gaming Control Board report that showed the state's cut of the money won by casinos in November was $48.5 million, up 23.1 percent.

Combined, sales and gambling tax revenues account for two-thirds of the money needed to run state government. Their growth so far this fiscal year is higher than expected, assuring a healthy surplus when the year closes June 30.

A breakdown of the $2.33 billion in November sales shows that the Las Vegas area accounted for $1.67 billion of the total, up 7.3 percent. The Reno area had sales totaling $381 million, up 5.2 percent.

In counties outside the Reno and Las Vegas areas, Carson sales were barely up, 0.5 percent; Douglas sales were up 18 percent, Elko sales were up 15.3 percent, Humboldt sales were down 5.1 percent, and White Pine sales were down 27.3 percent.

A breakdown of sales categories shows bar and restaurant trade, an indicator of tourist traffic, was up 15.9 percent statewide, general merchandise was up 12.5 percent, car sales were up 16.5 percent, clothing stores were up about 5 percent, and building material sales were down 0.2 percent.

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