NCP Blog: Back-to-School Season Is Back

Spending on Supplies

School supply lists seem to get longer and longer every year, going beyond the traditional pencils and notebooks to include things like disinfecting wipes, dry-erase markers, index cards, and other communal classroom supplies.

 

The National Retail Federation predicts this could be the most expensive back-to-school season ever. They estimate spending could top $135 billion this year! Not all experts agree with this, however, with others predicting a decline from last year due to inflation. Many parents are also spreading out their purchases or reusing supplies from previous years to save money. According to data from the Bureau of Labor Statistics, school supply prices have increased 24% over the past two years.

 

Are new clothes part of your back-to-school shopping list? I always loved picking out a new outfit for the first day of school. According to research from Circana, more than 80% of back-to-school apparel purchases are made in July and August, and this trend has been steady for three decades. However, their research indicates that the volume of clothing purchased during this time has decreased as parents prioritize other school supplies in order to manage their budgets.

 

 

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