SalesTaxHoliday

As states grapple with huge budget deficits, some of them are eliminating sales taxes for back-to-school shoppers. But are sales tax holidays really a good value for consumers? Experts discuss the true costs of the programs and some of the alternatives.

You've been putting your money in the bank rather than spending it, but the time is coming when you'll have to bite the bullet and buy those school clothes, that new stove or a computer for your job search. If you live in a state that offers a sale tax holiday, you can save a bundle by postponing...

The state tax holiday idea is spreading as the economic turmoil saps the income of middle-class Americans. The idea is that a state picks a day or more on which it waives state sales tax on purchases of selected types of goods. Some states use it as a carrot to encourage purchases of more...