N.D. taxable sales and purchases up

BISMARCK—North Dakota taxable sales and purchases were up $863 million, or 28 percent, during the summer months compared to the same time last year.

Tax Commissioner Cory Fong released the third quarter results Thursday, showing taxable sales and purchases during July, August and September were $3.947 billion.

“This is a positive report for North Dakota showing continued growth across the state and across most industry sectors,” Fong said in a statement. “North Dakota’s retail trade continued to show strength, and our businesses continue investing and building up inventory levels, in contrast to the national reports of a slow economic recovery.”

Retail trade, often looked to as a measurement of consumer confidence, reported a gain of 7.7 percent compared to the same period for 2009. Inflation during the same time was 1.2 percent.

Thirteen of 15 industry sectors reported growth during the third quarter, a news release said.

The wholesale trade sector had the largest growth in terms of dollars, growing $333 million, while the mining and oil extraction sector experienced the largest percentage of growth, increasing by 193.7 percent.

Third quarter gains in other sectors include: transportation and warehousing, up 77.3 percent; financial, insurance, real estate, rental and leasing, 77.1 percent; wholesale trade, 51.5 percent; miscellaneous, 27.8 percent; construction, 15.8 percent.

Other services grew 13.1 percent; professional, scientific, technical and management services, 12.3 percent; arts, entertainment and recreation, 8.9 percent; retail trade, 7.7 percent; accommodation and food services, 7.4 percent; manufacturing, 7.1 percent; and educational, health care and social services, 5.9 percent.

The two sectors experiencing a decline were the utilities sector, down 26.9 percent, and information industries, down 9.5 percent.

Of the 50 largest cities, the biggest percentage increases for third quarter 2010 were Tioga, 185.6 percent; Williston, 150.9 percent; Lincoln, 89 percent; New Town, 84.6 percent; and Stanley, 56.7 percent.

Of the 50 largest cities, the largest percentage decreases for the third quarter were Cavalier, down 40.7 percent; Park River, 22.3 percent; Ellendale, 20.8 percent; Cando 16.9 percent; and Walhalla, 10.1 percent.

Counties with the highest percentage increases were Williams, up 155.2 percent; Burke, 139.9 percent; Mountrail, 69 percent; McKenzie, 54 percent; and Dunn, 52 percent. 

The counties with the biggest percentage decreases were Pembina, down 25.5 percent; Towner, 13.2 percent; Traill, 12.7 percent; Griggs, 11.5 percent; and Grant, 8.6 percent.

Complete North Dakota Sales and Use Tax Statistical Reports from third quarter 2010 are at http://www.nd.gov/tax/salesanduse/pubs/reports/2010-3-stat-report.pdf