NRF has been conducting its annual Back-to-School and Back-to-College surveys since 2003 with Prosper Insights & Analytics to see how American families will shop for clothing, supplies and other items for the next school year.
Back to school stats
- Families with children in elementary through high school plan to spend $848.90, $59 more than last year, on average on back-to-school items. Total back-to-school spending is expect to reach $37.1B up from $33.9B last year and an all-time high in the survey's history.
- College students and their families are also setting records in spending. Total spending on back-to-college is expected to reach $71B up from $67.7B in 2020.
NRF’s Chief Economist, Jack Kleinhenz, and Senior Director for Industry and Consumer Insights, Katherine Cullen discuss expectations for the back-to-school season in a webinar from July 28, 2021. View slides from the webinar.
Back-to-school spending stats
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3 things to know about the back-to-school season
NRF’s Katherine Cullen joins the Retail Gets Real podcast to share what stands out most as kids and their parents shop for back to class.
Historical highlights
2020
- Press release: Coronavirus could push back-to-school spending to record level
- Article: How brands can use social to connect with Gen Z
2019
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July survey: Record spending expected for school and college supplies
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August survey: Back-to-school shopping update: Halfway done but more to do
2018
- July survey: Back-to-school and college spending to reach $82.8 billion
- August consumer survey: Back-to-Class shopping continues as school begins
- Slideshow: Top trends for 2018 back-to-school and college shopping
- Spotlight: Hispanic back-to-school shoppers
- Podcast: How Gen Z shapes back-to-school shopping
2017
- July consumer survey: Back-to-school and back-to-college spending to reach $83.6 billion
- August consumer survey: More parents holding off on back-to-school shopping
- Slideshow: Back-to-school and back-to-college
- Infographic: Back-to-class with NRF
- Article: Class is in session — 3 lessons for retailers this back-to-school season
2016
- July consumer survey: Back-to-school and college spending to reach $75.8 billion
- August consumer survey: Families aren’t finished with back-to-school shopping
- Article and SlideShare: A look at 2016’s top trends
- Infographic: A closer look at back-to-school shopping
2015
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