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 reported today.

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.

Taxable retail sales and retail trade by county and city, and a breakdown of sales statewide by industries are available at http://dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/newsroom/2012/trs-q12012.aspx.

Results for all counties and selected cities, including breakdowns of sales by industry sector, are available athttp://dor.wa.gov/Content/AboutUs/StatisticsAndReports/2012/qbr112/default.aspx.