Benton County’s total increases, Franklin County’s total dips

A steady increase in construction once again helped boost the state’s total taxable retail sales.

The most recent numbers released by the state are for the first quarter of 2019, and showed 4.9 percent growth over the same period in 2018, reaching $39.4 billion. Data from the second quarter is typically released later in November.

Retail trade, a subset of all taxable retail sales in the state, also increased by 4.6 percent to a total of $16.5 billion.

Taxable retail sales are transactions subject to the retail sales tax, including sales by retailers, the construction industry, manufacturing and other sectors. Retail trade includes sales of items such as clothing, furniture and automobiles, but excludes other industries, such as services and construction.

Benton County also posted positive gains in the first quarter, while Franklin County’s took a dip.

Benton County’s taxable retail sales totaled more than $955 million in the second quarter, up 3.8 percent from the previous year’s quarter. Benton County’s retail trade sales totaled $483 million, up 2.4 percent from the previous year’s quarter.

Kennewick’s taxable retail sales increased 2 percent; Richland’s increased 0.3 percent; West Richland’s increased
21 percent; and Prosser dipped by 7.3 percent.

Franklin County’s taxable retail sales totaled nearly $368 million, down 2.4 percent over the previous year. Franklin County’s retail trade sales totaled $188 million, down nearly 2.5 percent over the previous year.

Pasco’s taxable retail sales dipped 2.7 percent; Connell’s increased 7.5 percent.

The state’s Department of Revenue’s taxable retail sales figures compare the same quarter year-over-year to equalize any seasonal effects that would influence consumer and business spending.

Some statewide taxable retail sales and retail trade sales highlights from the first quarter, which runs January to March 2019, include:

• Construction rose 8 percent to $8 billion.
• Taxable retail sales reported by new and used auto dealers dipped 1.7 percent to $3.2 billion.
• Building materials, garden equipment and supplies sales rose 3.4 percent to $1.6 billion.
• Drug and health store sales jumped 7.1 percent to $786 million.