Tennessee's sales tax rate is now the highest in the nation

Louisiana no longer has the highest average sales tax rate in the nation, but only barely.

Tennessee has narrowly edged out Louisiana for the top spot with an average state and local combined sales tax rate of 9.46 percent.

That's according to the latest data available from the nonpartisan, conservative Tax Foundation, which shows Louisiana falls a hair behind at 9.45 percent.

Louisiana previously had the top average combined rate, but the state sales tax slightly declined July 1.

Louisiana's state sales tax had been slated to decrease from 5 percent to 4 percent. But state lawmakers in their last special session renewed 0.45 percent of the expiring temporary tax to avert steep cuts to college campuses and government-financed programs. The state's sales tax rate now is 4.45 percent.