Americans expect to spend more than $30 billion — an average of $688.62 per household — on back-to-school items this year, according to BIGinsight for the National Retail Federation. Those shopping for college (either for themselves or their children) will spend an average of $907.22.
Clothes and computers are the top back-to-school expenses. Shoppers who plan to buy computers, tablets, or other electronics for back-to-school will spend an average of $365.54 on them. Those who plan to buy clothes will spend $258.91 on them.
Electronics are also the most expensive items for college shoppers, with average spending of $400.64. The second- most-expensive category is furnishings for dorm rooms or apartments, with average spending of $214.45.
More than four in 10 college students (43%) live at home with their parents or families; 26% live in dorms or other on-campus housing, 25% in off-campus apartments, and 5% in fraternities or sororities.
Sources: “Monthly Consumer Survey, July 2012,” BIGinsight, Chrissy Wissinger, Senior Manager, Communications, 400 W. Wilson Bridge, #200, Worthington, OH 43085; 614-846-0146; info@biginsight.com; www.biginsight.com.
National Retail Federation, Margaret Case Little, Senior Director, Communications, 325 7th St., NW, #1100, Washington, DC 20004; 202-783-7971;littlem@nrf.com; www.nrf.com
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