The following is a release from the Washington State Department of Revenue:

Washington state’s taxable retail sales reached $36.8 billion in the second quarter of 2016, an increase of 8.6 percent over the same quarter (April – June) in 2015. Retail trade, which is a subset of all taxable retail sales, rose nearly 5.2 percent to a total of $15.8 billion.

These figures are part of a quarterly report released today by the Washington State Department of Revenue (Revenue). The Quarterly Business Review compares the same quarter year-over-year to equalize any seasonal effects that would influence consumer and business spending decisions.

Statewide snapshot of taxable retail sales activity

• Taxable e-commerce and mail order sales increased 14.6 percent to $638 million.

• Drug and health stores’ sales rose 13.6 percent, reaching $633 million.

• Sales reported by RV, boat and motorcycle dealers jumped 10.2 percent, reaching $491 million.

• New and used auto dealers’ sales rose 8.5 percent to $3.24 billion.

• Department store retail sales dropped 2 percent, marking $687 million for the quarter.