July 15, 2012|By Lorraine Mirabella, The Baltimore Sun
A PriceGrabber survey in June had showed that nearly half of consumers expected to spend more this back-to-school season than in 2011 and that nearly 80 percent planned to buy online.
Purchases of technology products are increasing, but school clothing and supplies top most shoppers' lists, according to the survey. When asked what they plan to buy, 79 percent of consumers said new clothing, 51 percent a backpack, half said books, and 40 percent listed a technology-related item, such as a laptop, tablet computer or smartphone.
Some stores have begun to see such predictions come to fruition. At the Justice store at White Marsh, which focuses on items for pre-teen girls, backpacks with silver sparkle monograms have been big sellers. A 40 percent-off sale pulled some shoppers in, including one Wednesday morning who bought $300 worth of school clothing for her daughter, said Tonya Ringgold, the assistant manager.
Next door, The Children's Place advertised backpacks and school uniforms. Tyra Jones checked racks of discounted summer clothing, accompanied by her mother, two daughters and a nephew. They had come to the mall to buy a birthday gift for Jones' 7-year-old daughter Kayla. Back to school was not forefront in Jones' mind.
When she turns her attention to it, Jones said she'll compare prices online before returning to stores such as The Children's Place and Justice.
"I pick stuff up here and there," Jones said. "I look online before I come and see if they have [an item] and if it's on sale."
lorraine.mirabella@baltsun.com
Shopping snapshot
How much consumers plan to spend on back-to-school items in 2012:
Up to $500: 63 percent
$500 to $1,000: 20 percent
No back-to-school budget: 17 percent
What consumers plan to buy for going back to school in 2012:
School supplies: 83 percent
New clothing: 79 percent
Backpack: 51 percent
Books: 50 percent
Tech product: 40 percent
Source: Surveys by PriceGrabber, a website that tracks and compares retail prices.
Text BUSINESS to 70701 to get Baltimore Sun Business text alerts 
