This weekend is the Iowa Sales Tax Holiday. Consumers looking to purchase clothing, diapers and other products won’t have to pay the 5 percent sales tax.

The holiday is an excellent way to help stimulate Iowa’s economy and help people buy basic necessities without the burden of being taxed.

The weekend will encourage Iowans to go out and shop, and will also bring out-of-staters into Iowa.

Visitors to the state will not only spend money on clothing and other tax-free merchandise, they’ll also purchase food, gas and other goods necessary to make a day out of shopping.

The holiday can also benefit lower-income families and families with children by making it easier to pay for such necessary products.

Retailers didn’t benefit a great deal from the holiday last year. Department stores only gained an average of $70,000 in the July-September quarter. Specialty clothing and footwear stores actually lost money in the quarter.

Although retailers aren’t getting the big boost, Iowans are, and that’s what’s important.

Last year, Iowa consumers saved themselves $1.63 million with the tax-free weekend. The money saved is money in the hands of consumers, and will be spent toward other goods, in return benefiting the economy.

Iowans should get out and take advantage of the holiday; it’s a little extra cash in your pocket.

editorialboard: Michelle Kann, Tim Paluch, Zach Calef, Ruth Hitchcock, Cavan Reagan