Happy holiday

The Birmingham News ^ | Wednesday, August 30, 2006

[Condor 63]

Christmas came four months early for many retailers across Alabama, thanks to the state's first sales tax holiday Aug. 4-6.

That weekend, the state eliminated its 4 cent sales tax on back-to-school items, and more than 200 cities and counties joined in. Shoppers saved as much as 10 percent in combined sales taxes, and retailers enticed them further with deep discounts on many items. The result? In many shopping centers, Christmas-like crowds packed stores' aisles. For most retailers, it was a happy holiday, indeed, according to a statewide survey of 186 retailers by the Alabama Retail Association and General Growth Properties.The survey showed that 64 percent of retailers reported an increase in sales during the tax-free weekend over last year.

[roostercashews]

Texas has been doing the tax-free-weekend thing for a few years. If nothing else, it gets people into stores to buy.

[Biblebelter]

Where I live a mere 4 cent sales tax is a bit of a holiday in itself.

[mysterio]

What if you bought a car that day? No sales tax?

[fortunecookie]

I was in Massachusettes a couple weeks ago coinciding with their tax relief day, no state sales tax. It was chaos, turnout seemed huge. We were there for a visit with relatives, not the shopping, though. I had to laugh, because the radio and news people, discussing it and the great turnout, did everything but actually say directly how lowered taxes helped spur the economy in Taxachusetts the area. I had to laugh at the irony and wondered if Massachusans didn't notice that as well. A mini version of Reaganomics in action, working as designed. Hmmm.

[Condor 63]

No, it was only on a limited number of items. School supplies, computers and the like.

One would hope that the success of the program might make the tax pushers finally admit the truth that fewer taxes means more spending and better health for the economy but....

It is hard to wean people from that teat so I can't say I'm optimistic.