Average Taxpayer Gets 6.6% Boost in Refund

Refunds paid to U.S. taxpayers so far this year averaged $2,294, up 6.6% from the same period in 2004, which may give consumer spending a boost.

The Treasury refunded $118.7 billion to all taxpayers through March 11, an increase of 6.2% from the $111.7 billion issued by March 12, 2004, the Internal Revenue Service said.