Back-to-school shopping which retail analysts say is off to a slow start is expected to get a boost in Massachusetts this weekend because the state has authorized two days of sales-tax free shopping.
Jon Hurst, the president of the Retailers Association of Massachusetts expects a total of $500 million in sales to occur this weekend. He said the sales-tax free shopping during the second weekend in August has become the traditional start of the back-to–school shopping season in the state.
The so-called tax holiday authorized by the state legislature and signed by Governor Patrick waves collection of the 6.25 percent sales tax on any item costing less than $2,500. There are some exceptions including cars and boats.
