Third-quarter taxable retail sales in Spokane County increased to $3.9 billion, up 1.1% from the year-earlier period, according to data released yesterday by the Washington state Department of Revenue.

Overall taxable sales in the city of Spokane increased at the same rate, to $1.8 billion, in the third quarter, according to state data. 

Spokane County and the city of Spokane both ranked fourth among all counties and cities, respectively, in the state, in terms of overall retail sales. 

The increase in the Spokane area outpaced the state as a whole, which experienced a 0.1% decline in taxable retail sales, to $60.5 billion. 

Categories that experienced the steepest declines in taxable sales statewide include building materials and gardening equipment, down 8.6%; furniture, home appliances, and electronics, down 2.9%; and construction, down 2.5%.