Clark County’s taxable retail sales reached $4.2 billion in 2011, up 4 percent from $4 billion in 2010, boosted in part by increases in store-only sales and auto sales, according to a report Friday from the Washington State Department of Revenue.
Retail sales statewide also experienced a 3 percent bump to $103.8 billion in 2011, a possible sign of recovery enhanced by higher prices across all goods. In the two previous years — 2010 and 2009 — the state experienced two consecutive years of slumping retail sales, during the nation’s deep recession.
Among major industry groups statewide, construction was down 1.7 percent, auto sales were up 8.3 percent and food services rose 5.1 percent. Apparel and accessories sales increased 5.5 percent, but sales of building materials and garden equipment declined 0.3 percent.
