Even amid uncertainty over what exactly school will look like in the fall, back-to-school shopping is expected to hit record levels.

The National Retail Federation predicts that Americans will spend more than $101 billion for K-12 and college combined this year, up from $80.7 billion last year and topping the $100 billion mark for the first time.

What You Need To Know

  • National Retail Federation predicts that Americans will spend more than $101 billion this year on back-to-school shopping

  • College spending is expected to total $67.7 billion, up from $54.5 billion last year

  • K-12 spending is expected to top $33.9 billion, up from $26.2 billion last year

  • 55% of shoppers surveyed expected students will take at least some of their classes at home in the fall

According to a survey conducted in July, parents with children in elementary school through high school say they plan to spend an average $789.49 per family, topping the previous record of $696.70. College students and their families expect to spend an average $1,059.20 per family, which would top last year’s record of $976.78.

College spending is expected to total $67.7 billion, up from $54.5 billion last year, while K-12 spending is expected to top $33.9 billion, which would smash the record set of $30.3 billion set in 2012.

One reason could be that many items need to be replaced each year, Katherine Cullen, the Senior Director of Industry and Consumer Insights at the National Retail Federation, told Spectrum News.

"Now, some of that comes down to the fact that kids grow every year, whether they're in the classroom or not," Cullen said.

Amid the uncertainty caused by the coronavirus pandemic, 55% of shoppers surveyed expected students will take at least some of their classes at home in the fall, requiring a need for new items to be added to back-to-school shopping lists.

Of those shoppers, 72% believe they will need to buy items such as home furnishings and computers to support remote learning — laptops, computer speakers, headphones, printers and more — many of which can come with a big price tag.

"We're seeing families spend more on things like electronics as they look forward to possibly having their kids learn from home,” Cullen added.

For families dealing with lost jobs or reduced wages, a laptop or tablet can be a big expense. Consumer advocates, like John Breyault, the Vice President of Public Policy for the National Consumers League, say there are several options available.

"Don't be afraid to look for used technology, too,” Breyault told Spectrum News. 

Online shopping also provides more opportunities to compare prices, but now isn't the time to make a big purchase from an unfamiliar seller, Breyault warns . 

"Beware of some of these fly by night websites out there that may be spending a lot of money on advertising to make the results pop up at the top of your Google search,” he added.

Breyault cautioned that many sites sell products that are much lower quality than advertised, and some may even be a front for stealing credit card numbers or other personal information.