This data from the state Department of Revenue:
OLYMPIA – July 19, 2012 – Taxable retail sales increased 4.7 percent to $24.1 billion during the first quarter of 2012 compared to the same period in 2011, the Washington State Department of Revenue has reported.
Retail trade increased 4.2 percent to $11.1 billion over the first quarter of 2011. Retail trade is a subset of all taxable retail sales that includes retailers but excludes other industries such as services and construction.
Among major industries, construction was up 8 percent to $3.4 billion, accommodations and food services increased 6.6 percent to $2.8 billion, motor vehicles and parts rose 9.7 percent to $2.6 billion, and general merchandise stores were up 1.9 percent to $2.2 billion.
