Retail sales up 33.6% in second quarter 2021

OLYMPIA, Wash. – Dec. 7, 2021 – The second quarter of 2021 saw a sizable increase in taxable retail sales across the state over second quarter 2020, reaching $53.7 billion, thanks to strong sales in new and used automobiles and increasing construction activity.

Retail trade, a subset of all taxable retail sales in the state, also increased 27% for a total of $24.3 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 second quarter 2021 compared to the same period (April-June) in 2020:

  • Construction increased 38% to $10.9 billion.
  • Taxable retail sales reported by new and used auto dealers rose 49.7% to $4.4 billion.
  • Building materials, garden equipment and supplies increased 17% to $3.1 billion.
  • Taxable retail sales in general merchandise stores grew by 14.5% to $3.3 billion.
  • Apparel and Accessories sales increased by 122.5% to $1.1 billion.

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

See second 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

$19.6 billion

35.7

$7.4 billion

28.1

Pierce

$ 6.0 billion

33.2

$3.1 billion

29.5

Snohomish

$ 5.1 billion

34.0

$2.7 billion

32.2

Spokane

$ 3.6 billion

30.9

$1.6 billion

24.4

Clark

$ 2.8 billion

35.7

$1.9 billion

27.7

Thurston

$ 1.9 billion

27.4

$1.0 billion

25.0

Kitsap

$ 1.6 billion

28.2

$844 million

24.1

Benton

$ 1.5 billion

38.5

$668 million

30.2

Yakima

$ 1.3 billion

25.2

$749 million

23.8

Whatcom

$ 1.4 billion

37.4

$657 million

26.6

City

Taxable
retail sales

Percent change

Retail trade

Percent change

Seattle

$7.5 billion

35.8

$2.3 billion

22.6

Bellevue

$2.3 billion

55.3

$970 million

60.5

Tacoma

$1.7 billion

33.2

$870 million

33.0

Spokane City

$1.7 billion

33.0

$821 million

24.8

Vancouver

$1.5 billion

40.9

$703 million

37.2

Everett

$910 million

35.4

$440 million

30.7

Renton

$918 million

42.0

$496 million

43.0

Puyallup

$800 million

37.3

$536 million

36.2

Kennewick

$712 million

38.1

$425 million

39.3

Pasco

$515 million

21.8

$297 million

20.9


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

Check Revenue’s Statistics and Reports page 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.