Taxable retail sales declined 4.7 percent in Bellevue during the third quarter of 2008 from 2007, according to date released by the Washington State Department of Revenue.

Taxable retail sales totaled $1.446 billion in 2008, down from $1.518 billion in 2007.

Retail trade was down 12.23 percent in the third quarter, dropping to $593.4 million from $676.1 million in 2007.

Retail trade is a subset of all taxable retail sales that excludes construction, services and other non-retail businesses.Retail trade is a better measure of consumer purchases.

Nearby cities generally fared better.

Beaux Arts Village saw its taxable retail sales jump 79.45 percent in the third quarter over a year ago, $1.67 million compared to $931,827 in 2007. Retail trade was up 48.27 percent, or $659,651 in 2008 compared to $444,888 in 2007.

In Clyde Hill, taxable retail sales were up 43.17 percent, with the third quarter of 2008 recording $13.9 million compared to $9.7 million in 2007. Retail trade was up 69.12 percent, $1.42 million in 2008 and $844,172 in 2007.

Hunts Point was up 16.64 percent in taxable retail sales, with $6.7 million in 2008 compared to $5.7 million in 2007. Retail trade was up 13.23 percent, with $519,894 in 2008 and $459,150 in 2007.

Medina saw a 2.1 percent dip in taxable retail sales, with 2008 recording $26.7 million compared to $27.3 million in 2007. Retail trade was up 45.16 percent in Medina for the third quarter, with $2.87 million in 2008 compared to $1.93 million in 2007.

Yarrow Point also showed gains. Taxable retail sales were up 15.39 percent in the third quarter, to $5.45 million in 2008 from $4.72 million in 2007. Retail trade was up 341.38 percent with $1.21 million recorded in 2008 compared to $275,394 in 2007.

Overall in King County, taxable retail sales were down 4.41 percent in the third quarter to $11.7 billion in 2008 from $12.2 billion in 2007. Retail trade was down 7.21 percent in the third quarter, to $4.31 billion in 2008 from $4.65 billion in 2007.