RALEIGH, N.C. -- North Carolina consumers are about to feel another pinch in their wallets at the mall, the convenience store and most every retailer in between. The state's sales tax goes up a full penny Tuesday, bringing the total rate charged in most counties to 7.75 percent. At the same time, cigarettes, beer, wine and liquor will have higher excise taxes, all of which are likely to be passed on to retail buyers. Gov. Beverly Perdue agreed to raise these taxes in early August as part of a $991 million package designed to narrow a portion of a budget...