(CBS Detroit) – It’s the perfect back-to-school shopping season. With inflation issues still looming, families are scrambling to stock up on essential items to get the school year started.
“I don’t necessarily go to dollar stores or thrift stores because I know that if I pay attention on Facebook and look at those pages that are giving the community free stuff for kids to go back to school, I use them,” said Ikura Fushi, a parent of one student.
Fushi is one of many parents in the area looking for back-to-school deals.
According to the National Retail Federation, back-to-school purchases will exceed $39 billion this year, up from $26 billion in 2019.
“Families with children in elementary and high school are expected to spend an average of $875 on clothing, shoes and school supplies,” said Catherine Cullen, vice president of industry and consumer insights at the National Retail Federation.
This year represents the second highest number ever, according to the National Union for Scientific Research.
Experts say families who choose to save money by reselling clothes at clothing stores are seeing more shoppers looking for deals at a fraction of the cost.
“For example, our kids’ clothes, we start at 50 cents; I’d say the most expensive thing is $10, maybe $12. We represent a third of the cost of things at retail,” said Melanie Williams, co-owner of Regeneration.
New inflation data showed consumer prices rose 2.9% in July from a year earlier, falling below 3% for the first time since 2021.
Thousands of families in metro Detroit are swarming stores looking for school supplies. Basic school supplies like pens, pencils and paper will cost the average American parent about $141, the NRF says.
“The most popular destinations for shoppers during the back-to-school and college season are online shopping, followed by department stores and discount retailers,” Colin said.
As the race for the White House continues, the US economy remains a major topic.
With some retailers raising prices, the shopping season has become more stressful for families on fixed incomes.
“It kills the poor person who is barely making a living, and even when you go to the dollar store, it’s 1.25 when it used to be 99 cents,” Fauci said.
In a recent survey by Credit Karma, Gen Z and millennial parents were more likely to go into debt to pay for school supplies.
Terrell Bailey
