“Overall taxable retail sales in Thurston County fell in the fourth quarter of 2009, the eighth consecutive quarter in which the county has experienced a decline in consumer and business spending, the state Department of Revenue said.

Statewide taxable retail sales fell 6.3 percent in the year-over-year fourth-quarter period, largely because of the slower construction industry. Revenue spokesman Mike Gowrylow said Thursday that the construction industry typically represents 20 percent of taxable retail sales in the state.

Thurston County taxable retail sales also fell, but not as sharply, down 1.7 percent in the fourth quarter to $967.8 million from $984.1 million in the fourth quarter of 2008.

Heres how the countys largest cities did in the same period:

Olympia: Taxable retail sales rose 4.54 percent to $442.9 million from $423.6 million

Lacey: Fell 6.84 percent to $243.2 million from $261.1 million

Tumwater: Rose 2.32 percent to $104.1 million from $101.7 million

Yelm: Fell 11.8 percent to $36.7 million from $41.7 million (largest decline in Thurston County)

The state also reports a separate category of taxable retail sales called retail trade, which includes retailers but excludes industries such as services and construction. The data show:

Olympia: Fell 1.78 percent to $221.7 million from $225.7 million

Lacey: Rose 4.11 percent to $159.4 million from $153.1 million

Tumwater: Rose 2.43 percent to $52.3 million from $51.1 million

Yelm: Rose 1.78 percent to $23.1 million from $22.7 million (tied Olympia for smallest gain in county)

From the April 9th Olympian.

ED. NOTE: This wasn’t discussed at the Yelm Chamber of Commerce Forum Tuesday!