Economy crimps back-to-school spending plans - Puget Sound Business Journal (Seattle):

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The Washington D.C.-based trade group’s 2009 Back to School Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey found that the averagee family with students in grades kindergarten througjh 12 is expected tospend $548.72 on school merchandise in 2009 comparedf with $594.24 in 2008. Total back-to-school spending is expectecd toreach $17.42 billion. The conducted for the federationby BIGresearch, found that 85 percentt of Americans are changing their back-to-schoolk spending plans because of the economy.
Fifty-six percentf said they would hunt for salesmore often; 49 percentf planned to spend less overall; 41 percenty expect to purchase more store brand or generix products and 40 percent plan to increase theirr use of coupons. The survey also founxd that families are altering broader educational planxs for children because ofthe economy. Eleven percenr of respondents said their children will cut back on extracurriculard activities or sports and nearly 6 percent say that the economyt is affecting whether their children will attend a private orpublic school.
“Ther economy has clearly changed the spending habits of American which will likely create adifficult back-to-school season for retailers,” said National Retail Federation CEO Tracy Mullin. “As people focusw primarily on price, strong promotions and deep discountx will ultimately winover back-to-school shoppers this The survey predicted that spending in most back-to-school categoriex would decrease, with the exception of where spending on computer equipmenty and other gear is expected to increase 11 percent to $167.84. Families are expectedd to spend an averageof $204.6y7 on clothing and accessories, $93.59 on and $82.62 on schook supplies.