County retail sales increase

Spokane County’s taxable retail sales increased 6.7 percent during the first quarter of 2004, slightly outpacing growth statewide, the Washington State Department of Revenue reported Thursday.

Statewide, retail sales increased 6.3 percent during the first quarter of 2004, compared with the same time period last year.

Spokane County businesses reported $1.34 billion in sales, compared to $1.25 billion in the first quarter of 2003. Washington businesses reported $20.4 billion in sales during the quarter, compared to $19.2 billion a year ago, the department said in a news release.

Downtown Spokane’s River Park Square shopping center saw sales jump during the first quarter as well. The center reported in a May news release that first quarter sales surpassed 2003 by more than 7 percent, which constituted the highest first-quarter sales report since the center reopened in 1999.

“There was no particular category that was overwhelmingly strong. We were very consistent across the board,” said Bob Smith, general manager of River Park Square. Smith added however, that sales of clothing and home furnishings have been strong .

NorthTown Mall’s first quarter sales were up over last year, but a spokesperson for the North Side shopping center declined to say by how much. A call placed to the Spokane Valley Mall was not returned Thursday afternoon.

However, the Commerce Department reported Wednesday a dip in sales at the nation’s retailers in June. Sales dropped by 1.1 percent, the largest month-to-month decline in 16 months. The drop came after a strong May, in which sales were up 1.4 percent.

Despite the national report, Smith said the numbers he’s seen for River Park Square’s second quarter performance have been “encouraging,” though he has not seen sales numbers yet for June.

Statewide, sales by automobile dealers made up the largest part of the total in the first quarter, with general merchandise and sales at eating and drinking establishments following.