Booming Back-to-School Shopping Season May Give Retailers Lift They Need
Back-to-school spending is expected to increase 16% from 2020 as a return to in-person learning fuels consumer demand.
Photographer: Patrick T. Fallon/Bloomberg
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The retail industry is poised for its biggest back-to-school shopping season in at least five years, buoyed by parents and students who are primed to snap up gear for the in-person classroom experience after a year of virtual learning.
Spending is expected to reach $32.5 billion, up 16% from 2020 and 17% from 2019, according to a forecast from Deloitte LLP. Retailers are bullish that they can benefit from shoppers’ increased comfort with online shopping, honed during the pandemic, and strong demand for everything from school uniforms to markers.