Despite a slip in sales in November, Douglas County merchants gained enough traction to post strong gains in the month of December, according to data released by the Nevada Department of Taxation last week.County businesses produced a total of $62.7 million in taxable sales for the last month of the year, up 8.1 percent from $58 million posted in December 2011. For the fiscal year to date, which started July 1, taxable sales have reached $312.8 million, representing a 5 percent increase from the same time period in 2011.Miscellany appeared to lead the way in December, with miscellaneous manufacturing jumping …