The massive U.S. economic stimulus plan is increasing average tax refunds by about $260, or nearly 10 percent, the White House said Monday.

As President Barack Obama seeks to convince Americans he can ease their economic woes, the event is the first of a series by administration officials stressing the benefits of the Recovery Act stimulus plan before the April 15 tax filing deadline.

Republicans have criticized the Democratic president's $787 billion economic stimulus plan, signed by Obama in February 2009, as a waste of money that has failed to help average Americans.