Jerrod Shouse, state director of the National Federation of Independent Business, says next weekend’s sales-tax holiday will be a big help to small businesses struggling amid a wobbly Oklahoma economy.

“The sales-tax holiday is good for stores in general, but it could make a big difference for small businesses,” Shouse said. “The sales-tax holiday puts people in the mood to shop, and we’re hoping they buy at least some of their school clothes and supplies at small, locally-owned businesses, because when you support small business, you support the community.”

The latest NFIB Small Business Optimism Index, released July 9, shows that small-business confidence sputtered and lost momentum in June. Eighteen percent of small-business owners surveyed reported “poor sales” as their biggest concern, up 2 points. Taxes and government rules and regulations ranked first with 20 percent each.

“Combined with the back-to-school sales a lot of stores are having right now, anyway, the sales-tax holiday is going to help people get a bigger bang for their buck,” Shouse said. “The more we can encourage people to spend money and shop at small businesses, the more jobs we’ll save, and the faster our economy will recover.”

The sales-tax holiday on clothing is Aug. 2-4. To learn more, visit www.tax.ok.gov.