Rio Grande Valley cities saw a 5.5% increase in retail sales tax revenue through August 2026
Shoppers at the Mercedes Outlet Mall hunt for deals on Black Friday. Photo Credit | Kristen Mosbrucker-Garza

Rio Grande Valley cities received $290.7 million in sales tax revenue from the Texas Comptroller of Public Accounts through August 2026, up 5.5% from last year, according to state data. 

Most Valley cities saw year-over-year increases in their sales tax allocation; 39 of 44 cities saw growth. 

Some cities don’t appear in the state database, including Starbase, which does not collect sales taxes, as well as Indian Lake and San Perlita. 

Sales tax allocations are considered a key economic indicator because they reflect consumer spending patterns through retail sales and use taxes. City officials track the data on a local level as an economic metric too. August sales tax allocations are typically for sales that happened in June 2026. 

5,000+ business leaders across the Valley start their day with us.

Join them free!

RGV Business Journal is the only newsroom dedicated exclusively to the business and economic forces driving South Texas and the border economy.

Our subscribers get:

In-depth reporting on real estate, healthcare, energy, manufacturing, and trade
Data and economic trend analysis unavailable anywhere else in the region
The Morning Newsletter: daily, before the workday starts

Try it free for 30 days.

Start My Free Trial

$9.95/month after trial. Cancel anytime.

Add Rio Grande Valley Business Journal as a preferred source on Google

Daily Business Update

Get the latest business news delivered to your inbox every morning for free.

    Try 30 Days Free!

    Get full access to award-winning journalism covering business, real estate, health care, economic trends, and the people shaping the Rio Grande Valley.

    30 Days Free!

    $9.95/month

    Limited time offer

    Subscription renews after your 30 day free trial at $9.95/mo.

    Included Benefits


    • Unlimited access to all articles
    • Daily business news and analysis
    • Subscriber-only content and features
    Get Full Access

    DHR expands Starr County medical campus with new specialists and rural residency program

    March 5, 2026 • 4 min read

    The health system is building a physician pipeline in Rio Grande City while expanding access to specialized care in one... Read more »

    UTRGV brings global cancer researchers to South Padre Island

    February 27, 2026 • 2 min read

    Scientists, clinicians, and medical students will gather for the UTRGV School of Medicine’s fourth international symposium.... Read more »