Clark County taxable retail sales up 7.8 percent

Taxable retail sales in Clark County increased 7.8 percent to $1.2 billion during the first quarter of 2014 compared to the same period in 2013, according to the Washington State Department of Revenue.

Retail trade, a subset of all sales that excludes non-retail sectors such as construction and services, rose 4.1 percent in Clark County to $520 million.

Statewide, among major industries, E-commerce grew by 18.9 percent; new and used car sales increased by 6.9 percent; and building construction increased by 6.1 percent.

Some sectors saw a small decline, including department store purchases, which dropped 9.5 percent.