Kitsap retailers
had cause to celebrate during the 2015 holiday
season.
The $1.03 billion in taxable retail sales reported by county businesses during the last three months of the year marked a 10.4 percent increase from the same period of 2014.
Kitsap posted the largest percent increase in fourth quarter sales of any county in the Puget Sound region, according stats from the state Department of Revenue.
Retail trade sales — sales made by dealerships, stores and other businesses selling merchandise directly consumers — were up 7.7 percent.
Major retail trade industries reporting increased sales included auto dealers and parts stores (up 11.4 percent), building and garden material suppliers (up 12.5 percent), and general merchandise stores (up 5.1 percent).
Outside of retail trade, building construction was up an impressive 25.4 percent, manufacturing up 7 percent, wholesale trade 16.3 percent, information up 14.5 percent, and accommodations up 26.1 percent.
(Click here to see the year-over-year change in sales every industry in Kitsap.)
Annual sales
With the fourth quarter stats in hand we can now see how 2015 sales stacked up to previous calendar years.
Retail sales in Kitsap increased by 9.96 percent from 2014 to 2015, and 26 percent from five years ago.
Here’s a chart showing annual retail sales in Kitsap for the past five years:
