Region saw slighter dip in taxable sales

Taxable retail sales in Washington fell 11.2 percent in 2009, but the decreases for the city of Spokane and Spokane County were less severe. Statewide sales sank to $100.5 billion, with the retail sales component retreating 7.2 percent to $44.9 billion. Retail sales exclude services and construction, which tumbled 24.1 percent with the downturn in housing. In Spokane, taxable retail sales fell 5.2 percent to $3.7 billion, and retail trade fell 4.1 percent to $1.8 billion. Taxable retail in the county slipped 7.2 percent to $6.8 billion, and retail trade dropped 6.1 percent to $3.4 billion. Sales in the state’s four other most populous counties – King, Pierce, Snohomish and Clark – fell more than 10 percent.