Economy crimps back-to-school spending plans - Baltimore Business Journal:

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The D.C.-based trade group’s 2009 Back to School Consumer Intentions and Actions Survey founfd that the average family with students in grades Kindergartemn through 12 is expected tospend $548.72 on school merchandises in 2009 compared with $594.234 in 2008. Total back to school spendinf is expected toreach $17.42 billion. The conducted for the federation by found that 85 percent of Americans are changing their back-to-school spending plans because of the economy.
Fifty-sid percent said they would hunt for sales more 49 percent planned to speneless overall; 41 percent expec t to purchase more store brand or generic products and 40 percenr are planning to increase their use of coupons. The survey also foune that families are altering broader educational plans for children because ofthe economy. Eleven percent of respondents said their children will cut back on extracurriculard activities or sports and nearly 6 percen say that the economy is impacting whethetr their children will attend a private orpublic school.
“The economy has clearly changesd the spending habits ofAmerican families, which will likely create a difficultf back-to-school season for retailers,” said Nationap Retail federation CEO Tracy Mullin. “Ad people focus primarily on price, strong promotion and deep discounts will ultimately winover back-to-school shopperas this year.” The survey predicte that spending in most back-to-school categorieas would decrease, with the exceptiobn of electronics where spending on computer equipmentt and other gear is expectee to increase 11 percent to $167.84. Families are expectecd to spend an averageof $204.67 on clothingh and accessories, $93.59 on shoes, and $82.
62 on schoopl supplies.