How the rest of the country matches up:

With the new increases in effect and more on the way come July 1st (see listing to the left), California will now have the highest sales taxes in the nation. See how other states fair in sales taxes with the map below (click to enlarge):


The tax hike is the result of a state vote that passed through the legislature without ever being a ballot issue for voters. Though technically standard procedure for tax increases, many citizens felt blindsided in a time already stymied with economic panic.