Cyber Monday overtakes Black Friday in Douglas November sales numbers

Strong online sales in November indicated that Cyber Monday overtook Black Friday, according to figures released by the Nevada Department of Taxation on Wednesday.

Douglas County merchants reported a 7.9 percent increase in taxable sales for the month that includes two of the year’s biggest shopping days.

Merchants rang up $89.9 million during the month, up from $83.3 million in 2022.

That helped push sales to $509.98 million for the first five months of the fiscal year, up 5.3 percent.

Nonstore retailers, which includes most online sales, topped the categories for the first time with a 13.7 percent increase to $11.67 million.

General merchandise stores, including the county’s two Walmarts and a Target, reported $11 million in sales, down 1.3 percent from the previous year.

Tourism-related sector food services and drinking places was up 4.9 percent to $9.1 million, while accommodations was up 5.2 percent to $2.79 million. Amusement, gambling and recreation was down 25.4 percent to $1.1 million in November, slowing what had been a strong roll. The sector is up 14.2 percent for the fiscal year to $18 million, so far for the fiscal year.

November wasn’t a particularly lucrative month for gaming at Stateline where numbers were down nearly 8 percent, compared to 2022.

Gaming figures released on Wednesday indicated that Stateline was up 2.99 percent in December increasing to $16.12 million. The casino take is still behind 5.35 percent for the fiscal year, according to the Nevada Gaming Control Board.

East Fork and Carson City townships were up 13.5 percent to $11.7 million. The two townships are combined for reporting purposes.

Construction-related sector building material, garden equipment and supplies was up 10 percent in November to $7 million. Furniture and home furnishings posted a 6.2 percent increase to $1.9 million.

One of the biggest drops was in motor vehicle and parts dealers, where taxable sales were half what they were in November 2023. The sector brought in $2.28 million, down from $4.6 million, but is still up 10 percent for the fiscal year.

Merchant wholesalers of durable goods climbed 33.8 percent to $8 million making the sector the fourth largest in November.

A working sawmill located in northern Douglas County appears to be generating income with taxable sales for wood product manufacturing up 119 percent to $1.1 million.