BISMARCK, N.D. (AP) — North Dakota’s taxable sales and purchases for the second quarter of 2018 increased nearly 10 percent over the same time period the previous year.The state Tax Department says it was the second consecutive quarter of nearly 10 percent growth.

 

Tax Commissioner Ryan Rauschenberger (RAW’-shun-bur-gur) says it’s a good measure of economic activity in the state.Taxable sales and purchases for April, May and June totaled $5.1 billion, a 9.4 percent increase over the three-month span in 2017.Nine of the 15 major industry sectors reported gains over the year. The mining and oil extraction sector increased by $208 million, or about 43 percent. The wholesale trade sector increased by nearly $236 million, up 22 percent from the same period a year ago.