CARSON CITY, Nev. (AP) - Taxable sales in Nevada continued a positive streak in July, increasing 4.7 percent over the same month last year and marking the 25th consecutive month of steady gains.

The Department of Taxation on Thursday reported merchants sold $3.5 billion in goods in July, on which the state collected nearly $277.7 million in gross sales and use taxes for the first month of the fiscal year. Of that, the portion that goes to the state general fund amounted to $70.3 million, up nearly 4 percent from July 2011.

In Clark County, taxable sales of $2.5 billion were up 5.4 percent. Washoe County in northern Nevada saw sales increase to $489.5 million, up 5.6 percent.

Some notable industries posting strong gains were autos and durable goods, accommodations, and machinery manufacturing.

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