OLYMPIA, Wash. — Taxable retail sales saw a small increase of 1.8%, reaching $231.6 billion in 2023. The increases were due to the sales increases in construction and new and used auto dealers.
According to the Washington State Department of Revenue (DOR), retail trade, which is a subset of all taxable retail sales in the state, had a decrease of 0.5% for a total amount of $96.3 billion. Retail trade includes various items such as furniture, clothing, and automobiles. However, this excludes other industries like services and construction.
Taxable retail sales are transactions that are subject to the retail sales tax. This includes sales by retailers, the construction industry, as well as manufacturing and other sectors, said DOR.
These figures are part of an annual taxable retail sales report that was released Thursday by the Washington State Department of Revenue.
Here are some industries that saw increases in taxable retail sales during 2023 compared to 2022:
- New and used auto dealers -- 0.2% increase, up to $17.4 billion
- Warehouse Clubs, Supercenters, and Other General Merchandise -- 0.6% increase, up to $12.7 billion
- Construction -- 2.1% increase, up to $48.7 billion
- General Merchandise Stores -- 0.8% increase, up to $13.6 billion
- Grocery and Convenience Store -- 5.6% increase, up to $5.1 billion
- Apparel and Accessories -- 0.4% increase, up to $5.6 billion
Here are some industries that saw decreases in sales during 2023 in comparison to 2022:
- Lawn garden supplies and equipment -- 2.6% decrease, down to $1.1 billion
- Building materials, garden equipment, and supplies -- 8.0% decrease, down to $9.6 billion
- Furniture, Home Furnishings, Electronics, and Appliance -- 3.8% decrease, down to $9.3 billion
To see the calendar year 2023 taxable retail sales and retail trade sales by industry, you can click here.
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