Retail sales down county wide

NEWPORT – Taxable retail sales in Pend Oreille County were down for the first quarter of 2024 compared to a year ago, according to figures released by the state Department of Revenue. Taxable retail sales are transactions subject to the retail sales tax, including sales by retailers, the construction industry, manufacturing and other sectors. They are a subset of all retail sales.

In the three months ending March of 2024, there was $44,736,133 total taxable retail sales in the Pend Oreille County, down more than $5 million or 10.438% from the same period in 2023, when there was $49,950,071 in total taxable retail sales. Much of that was in the unincorporated parts of the county, where retail sales fell from $29,240,097 in the first quarter of 2024 to $23,235,663.

Newport and Cusick had more taxable retail sales in the first quarter of 2024 than the previous year. Cusick had $856,932 in retail sales in 2024, compared to $656,766 last year. Newport had nearly $1 million more retail sales this year, with $17,913,892 in 2024, compared to $16,906,949 last year.

The north county had fewer taxable retail sales this year.

Metaline had close to half the retail sales in 2024, $358,268, compared to $620,086 last year. Metaline Falls had $805,439 in sales last year compared to $848,103 in the first quarter of 2023. Ione had $1,565,939 in 2024, down from $1,678,070 in 2023. Metaline Falls had $805,439 in first quarter retail sales in 2024, down from $848,103 last year.

Neighboring Stevens and Spokane counties saw a slight rise in sales, .534% in Stevens County and .333% in Spokane County. Statewide there was a .39% increase in taxable retail sales for the first quarter of 2024, compared to the same period a year ago.