Rolf Boone reports in today’s Olympian:

“Thurston County taxable retail sales were flat in the first quarter of 2010, ending a streak of eight consecutive quarters in which county retail sales data showed steep year-over-year declines, according to state Department of Revenue data released Thursday [July 8].

Statewide retail sales fell in the first quarter, although the decline wasnt as steep as it has been in past quarters. Year over year, statewide retail sales fell 2.9 percent, largely because of an 18.3 percent drop in sales generated by the construction industry…

Thurston County: Fell 0.14 percent to $850.2 million from $851.4 million

Yelm: Fell 4.34 percent to $34.3 million from $35.8 million.

[Ed. Note: Yelm’s retail sales drop was far more than the county’s. Keep in mind the overall retail sales figure determines tax revenue for the city.]…

The state also releases a separate category of retail sales data known as retail trade, which better reflects consumer purchases and excludes the construction industry. The data show:

Thurston County: Rose 2.11 percent to $425.8 million from $417 million.

Yelm: Rose 3.55 percent to $20.4 million from $19.7 million.”