Wal-Mart sales boost county's third quarter talley

Thanks to Wal-Mart, the economy of Whitman County saw a marked upswing during the third quarter of 2011.

Figures released Friday by the state Department of Revenue showed taxable sales in Whitman County between July and September were more than $145 million, up nearly 15 percent from the same period in 2010.

Retail sales, which exclude construction and services, rose 30 percent, from $44 million in 2010 to $58 million in 2011.

Most of that came from Wal-Mart.

“No doubt about it, Wal-Mart’s been good for our city,” said John Sherman, Pullman city supervisor.

Though the state does not specify fr...