A mural welcomes and reassures shoppers that Gardnerville is open and safe.
Douglas merchants saw a slowdown in taxable sales during November, according to figures released by the Nevada Department of Taxation.
The county’s merchants reported $74.5 million during the month, up 3.3 percent from the same month in 2019.
So far this fiscal year, merchants have reported $403.59 million in taxable sales, up 14.1 percent from the first five months of the prior fiscal year.
The figures don’t yet reflect the three-month lock-down between March and June 2020.
General merchandise stores, which include the two Douglas Walmarts and the Jacks Valley Target, posted a 9.4 percent increase to $11 million. Black Friday after Thanksgiving typically generates significant sales, though most retailers extended deals through the month.
Nonstore retailers, including Amazon and other online sellers, continued to generate large amounts of sales due to the coronavirus outbreak. They reported $9.23 million in taxable sales, up 51.7 percent from November 2019.
Food services and drinking places reported $8.27 million, down 6.5 percent from November 2019. That category and accommodations are largely generated by the Stateline casinos.
Building materials generated $5.1 million in taxable sales, up 16.9 percent from November 2019, reflecting the construction boom in the county.
Despite only having one small auto dealer in Gardnerville, Douglas County parts stores reported $4 million in sales, up 25.8 percent from last year. The county’s revenues are subsidized by the state because it doesn’t generate enough sales tax to meet its population’s needs.
Unemployment was down in the county in December, according to the Nevada Department of Employment, Training and Rehabilitation.
Douglas had a 5.4 percent jobless rate with 1,200 people out of work and an employment pool of 22,600 in December. The number of employed didn’t change, so those without jobs either moved out of the county or their benefits have expired.
December saw a decrease in gaming revenue across Nevada, with the Stateline casinos posting a 14.08 percent decrease.
According to the Nevada Gaming Control Board, the casinos generated $15.6 million down from $18.1 million last December.
The Tahoe casinos produce most of the gaming revenue for Douglas County and are running 4.85 percent behind the first half of fiscal year 2019-20.
Casinos in East Fork and Carson City townships reported $9.2 million, down a percent from the same time last year.
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