Back-to-school shopping is a ritual that most families go through as summer comes to an end. This process can either be a headache or a cakewalk depending on a number of factors. According to an annual survey released by the National Retail Federation (NRF) and Prosper Insights & Analytics, back-to-school spending has hit a record high of $43.3 billion for K-12 students and $103.5 billion for college students.
Consumer Trends
The survey highlighted consumer trends dating back to 2020, showing that shoppers are keeping value front and center as they look for ways to make their dollars go further. Retailers are responding with a strong assortment of products, promotional events, and more convenient shopping options, helping families find what they need while saving time and money.
Electronics are the top category across both school shopping groups, with college consumers spending an average of $341.95 and K-12 spending an average of $293.11. The percentage of consumers planning to purchase electronics has increased significantly this year, while several other categories are also attracting more shoppers than previous years.
About 26% of shoppers start at least two months before school starts, which nearly doubles to 44% when looking at those who start within the final month. In 2026, 62% of consumers have been shown to start their school shopping by early July, while 32% began in early June.
Original reporting: Dallas TX News (HLL/CB) — read the source article.
