Cape Girardeau retailers are gearing up for the back-to-school sales tax holiday, which begins today and runs through Sunday.
The state of Missouri and participating local governments will not tax back-to-school items this weekend, like clothing, school supplies and computers. Cape Girardeau is participating for the first time since 2008.
Cape Girardeau Chamber of Commerce executive director John Mehner said the holiday draws more people into town for the weekend, benefiting retailers and consumers who want to save a few bucks.
“Everybody has to spend money on the back-to-school type products,” Mehner said. “The supplies, the clothes, maybe even personal computer, that type of thing. This gives retailers an opportunity to really market those things.”
The holiday will also help out local restaurants.
“When you attract more people to the area, many times they will combine shopping with eating something,” Mehner said. “So they’ll work a meal into that as well. So I do think that helps.”
State and municipal sales taxes add up to about 8 percent in Cape Girardeau.
