Taxable retail sales rose 4.3 percent during the third quarter of 2003 compared to the same period in 2002, according to the latest Quarterly Business Review published by the Washington State Department of Revenue.

Among cities, Tacoma was up 9.1 percent overall, while Seattle was up 0.9 percent.

Pierce County showed a 9.4 percent increase, King County was up 2.2 percent and Snohomish County posted a 3.6 percent gain.