Retail sales up 12% in first quarter 2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Sept. 1, 2021 – The first quarter of 2021 saw a rebound in taxable retail sales across the state over first quarter 2020, reaching $46 billion, thanks to strong sales in new and used automobiles and a healthy upswing in construction.

Retail trade, a subset of all taxable retail sales in the state, also increased 22.9% for a total of $20.9 billion. Retail trade includes sales of items such as clothing, furniture and automobiles, but excludes other industries, such as services and construction.

Taxable retail sales are transactions subject to the retail sales tax, including sales by retailers, the construction industry, manufacturing and other sectors.

These figures are part of a quarterly report released today by the Washington State Department of Revenue. The taxable retail sales figures compare the same quarter year-to-year to equalize any seasonal effects that would influence consumer and business spending.

Here are some sectors that saw increases in taxable retail sales during the first quarter 2021 compared to the same period (January-March) in 2020:

  • Construction increased 6.6% to $9.4 billion.
  • Taxable retail sales reported by new and used auto dealers rose 31.8% to $4 billion.
  • Building materials, garden equipment and supplies increased 27.3% to $2.2 billion.
  • Taxable retail sales in general merchandise stores grew by 13.6% to $2.9 billion.
  • Apparel and Accessories sales increased by 18.7% to $1 billion.

The majority of sectors saw healthy first quarter taxable retail sales increases from the previous year’s first quarter.

See first quarter 2021 taxable retail sales and retail trade sales by industry.

Find out more information about taxable retail sales in:

  • Counties
  • Cities
  • Some highlights of 10 counties and cities in the state:

County

Taxable retail sales

Percent change

Retail trade

Percent change

King

$16.9 billion

2.3

$6.4 billion

15.1

Pierce

$ 5.2 billion

19.4

$2.7 billion

29.4

Snohomish

$ 4.4 billion

14.8

$2.3 billion

23.2

Spokane

$ 3.1 billion

18.5

$1.6 billion

30.1

Clark

$ 2.4 billion

20.9

$1.1 billion

28.1

Thurston

$ 1.7 billion

16.2

$877 million

26.2

Kitsap

$ 1.4 billion

16.5

$730 million

24.3

Benton

$ 1.2 billion

18.5

$668 million

29.6

Yakima

$ 1.1 billion

14.6

$607 million

24.9

Whatcom

$ 1.2 billion

15.6

$579 million

19.2

City

Taxable retail sales

Percent change

Retail trade

Percent change

Seattle

$6.5 billion

-4.1

$2.0 billion

4.9

Bellevue

$2.0 billion

-0.9

$831 million

15.9

Tacoma

$1.5 billion

14.9

$784 million

26.5

Spokane City

$1.4 billion

14.9

$735 million

28.1

Vancouver

$1.3 billion

19.5

$588 million

25.2

Everett

$794 million

12.4

$383 million

20.2

Renton

$774 million

15.2

$435 million

26.9

Puyallup

$710 million

19.3

$477 million

21.5

Kennewick

$611 million

16.1

$372 million

24.8

Pasco

$425 million

8.8

$245 million

28.8

Compare taxable retail sales numbers for first quarter 2021 and previous years by checking out Retail sales for cities and counties information.

Check Revenue’s Statistics and Reports for additional detail about taxable retail sales.

Understanding how businesses are classified

Revenue uses business tax return data to create this quarterly report. Businesses are categorized under the U.S. Census Bureau’s classification system based on their primary taxable activity. The North American Industry Classification System – or NAICS – is the same method federal statistical agencies use for the purpose of analyzing economic data.

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The Department of Revenue is Washington state’s primary tax agency, nationally recognized as a trusted leader in tax administration and customer service. Revenue administers nearly 60 categories of taxes that help fund vital public services. It also oversees programs that return money to the public, including the Working Families Tax Credit and Unclaimed Property.