8.Income Taxes

Income tax expense reflects the federal statutory tax rate and the weighted average state statutory tax rate for the states in which the Company operates stores. Income tax expense of $46,635 for the 13 weeks ended August 4, 2018 represents an effective tax rate of 23.9%, compared to $66,162 of tax expense representing an effective tax rate of 36.7% for the 13 weeks ended July 29, 2017. Income tax expense of $93,406 for the 26 weeks ended August 4, 2018 represents an effective tax rate of 23.0%, compared to $126,682 of tax expense representing an effective tax rate of 34.3% for the 26 weeks ended July 29, 2017. The lower effective tax rate is primarily due to tax reform.