HispanicBusiness

El Paso's state tax rebates, an indication of retail sales, increased 3.1 percent in May compared with the same time a year ago, new data show.

That's below the 4.9 percent increase for all Texas cities combined, Texas comptroller's data show.

El Paso's tax rebates so far this year are up 3.3 percent from the rebates a year ago -- also below the 6.3 percent increase for Texas cities combined.

In May, El Paso received $7.2 million in state tax rebates for retail sales occurring in March. That's an increase of $218,320 from May 2012.

Most other Texas metro areas had larger percentage gains in May sales tax rebates than did El Paso: Houston, up 9.3 percent; McAllen, up 8.5 percent; Austin, up 4.8 percent; and San Antonio, up 4.1 percent. Dallas had a smaller gain at 2.1 percent.

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