It’s been a few weeks since Missourians began receiving their economic stimulus checks from the federal government, but it’s going to take some time to determine whether that money is being used to stimulate the economy through purchases of goods and services other than gasoline and everyday cost of living expenses.

Missouri Retailers Association President David Overfelt says his members are finding out the unfortunate truth is that there is not a lot left over once the gas tank is filled and food is placed on the table.

During the recently concluded session of the General Assembly the Missouri Retailers Association and other organizations backed legislation to create a sales tax holiday for the last weekend in June in a bid to stimulate sales, but that effort failed. This would have been separate from the back to school sales tax holiday in August.

Download/Listen: Steve Walsh report (:60 MP3)