Happy Friday! I’m Betty Lynn Fisher for Friday’s consumer edition of “The Daily Money.”
My kids are grown and no longer in school, but I can still hear them groaning when the topic of school comes up during summer vacation. Also, my husband is a teacher, so we don’t talk about school during summer vacation. Except my jealousy of having to work all summer!
But…this is “good” school news. At least for parents and guardians who have to buy their kids all the school supplies, computers, tablets, and new back-to-school wardrobes (or even for college students or seniors who are going to school).
Some states have sales tax holidays that can help you save money on your back-to-school shopping.
Please see my article. Here’s a list of 18 U.S. states that specifically exempt school supplies from sales tax, and several states that are expanding tax-free shopping to give back-to-school shoppers more bang for their buck.
Why did Walmart lower its prices?
Walmart has slashed prices on thousands of summer items, including beef and other barbecue favorites.
But was the reversal, first announced by President Donald Trump in a Truth Social post on July 6, at the behest of the presidential administration celebrating the nation’s 250th anniversary? Was it part of an aggressive summer pricing campaign to stay competitive with other retailers?
Or are the effects of tariffs, which many retailers cite as pressure to raise prices, starting to ease?
Walmart declined to comment to me for my story, saying nothing beyond the press release the retailer issued on July 6.
How will shoppers benefit, including those who don’t go to Walmart?
📰 Consumer stories you can’t miss 📰
🍔Today’s menu🍔
TGIF, but here’s another reason to celebrate Friday. Today is National Fry French Fry Day, and as my colleague Mike Snyder points out in his article, the day is celebrated on Friday. Do you know it’s fly day? Here’s how to get free fries.
Betty Lin-Fisher is a consumer reporter for USA TODAY. Contact her at blinfisher@USATODAY.com or follow her at @blinfisher on X, Facebook and Instagram and @blinfisher.bsky.social on Bluesky.. Sign up for our free The Daily Money newsletter, breaking down complex consumer and financial news. subscribe to her
