Kitsap County taxable retail sales up 7.3 percent in second quarter

OLYMPIA — Kitsap County’s taxable retail sales of $1.03 billion in the second quarter of this year was a 7.3 percent increase over the same period last year.

Retail trade, which is a subset of all taxable retail sales, registered $550 million countywide during the second quarter 2016, a 7.4 percent increase over the same period last year. Statewide, taxable retail sales reached $36.8 billion in the second quarter of 2016. That’s an increase of 8.6 percent over the same quarter last year. Retail trade rose nearly 5.2 percent to $15.8 billion.

The statistics were compiled by the state Department of Revenue.

Statewide, taxable e-commerce and mail order sales increased 14.6 percent to $638 million. Just behind were drug and health store sales, which rose 13.6 percent, reaching $633 million.

RV, boat and motorcycle sales by dealers jumped 10.2 percent. New and used car auto dealer sales rose by 8.5 percent. Department store retail sales, however, dropped 2 percent.

King County taxable retail sales for second quarter 2016 easily outpaced all other state counties with $15.1 billion. It also had the highest percent change: 11.1 percent. Pierce County registered $3.68 billion.