Jon Hurst

It's been an extreme burden on consumers and retailers since 2009. That's when the Massachusetts Legislature forced their will on us, again. This time with a 25% hike in the sales tax. According to the Department of Revenue, the state was rewarded with $6...

BOSTON (AP) - Brick and mortar retailers are weighing a possible 2018 ballot campaign aimed at lowering the state's 6.25 percent sales tax. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts is gauging support from members for such an approach as it waits for a decision from the Legislature on whether to authorize a sales tax holiday next month...

An organization representing Bay State merchants is optimistic about the holiday season. The Retailers Association of Massachusetts is forecasting a 6.5 percent increase in store sales during the months of November and December. The holiday sales period unofficially begins in earnest on ``Black Friday...

The Massachusetts Senate has approved a compromise bill that would hike the state's current $8-per-hour minimum wage to $11 per hour by 2017, but would not tie future increases to inflation. The 35-4 vote on Thursday came less than 24 hours after House and Senate negotiators hammered out a deal on the minimum wage...