Most Rio Grande Valley cities see sales tax gains through July 2026
By Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza • August 15, 2026 • 3 min read
Economic TrendsFinanceRetailU.S.
McAllen led the Valley with $63 million in sales tax revenue through July, up 7.2%, while Edinburg bucked the regional trend with a 5.8% decline.
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In the Headlines
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