2Q retail sales dropped 14 percent in Washington

OLYMPIA — The state Department of Revenue says taxable retail sales in Washington declined to $25 billion in the second quarter of this year, a 14 percent drop from the same period last year. The state said Friday that the April-through-June sales decline is the largest one on record. Sales were down 12.8 percent during the first quarter of this year, and 10.8 percent during the fourth quarter of last year, the second- and third-largest declines since reliable records have been kept beginning in 1974, state officials said. Two of the biggest drops were in retail sales from construction, down 26 percent to $4.3 billion, and motor vehicle and parts, down 21 percent to $2.3 billion.