County’s Taxable Sales Jump 9% in Quarter

In another indication that Orange County’s economy continues to outstrip the rest of Southern California and the state as a whole, a new report shows that taxable sales in the county jumped 9% in the third quarter of 1996.

That gain compares with a 5% increase statewide and was the strongest growth in taxable sales of any county in Southern California, according to the report by the State Board of Equalization.

Orange County’s taxable sales in the third quarter totaled $8.17 billion. The figure includes sales at retail stores, car dealers and gas stations.

Patrice Apodaca covers economic issues for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-5979 and at patrice.apodaca@latimes.com.