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Mass. Shoppers Take Advantage Of Tax-Free Weekend

BOSTON (AP) — Massachusetts shoppers looking for summer dog day deals are expected to crowd local stores for another sales tax holiday this weekend.

In what is becoming an annual event, the state will suspend the 6.25 percent tax on Saturday and Sunday.

The state has had a sales tax holiday in all but one year since 2004.

While many retailers look to the sales tax holiday to help spark an influx of customers during a typically slow time of year, critics say it largely helps "big box" national retailers and is a significant hit to needed state tax revenues.

The sales tax remains in effect for cigarettes and big-ticket purchases such as cars, motorboats and anything costing more than $2,500.

Food and most clothing are already exempt from the sales tax.

Copyright 2015 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.

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