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School supplies driving seasonal sales

Posted Aug 19, 2009 by Jeff Scullin

Updated Aug 19, 2009 at 12:40 PM

As parents in Hillsborough, Pasco and Pinellas counties prepare to send their children back to school next week, many are stocking up on No. 2 pencils, three-ring-binders, backpacks, books and the latest fashions.

Consumer spending reflects the time of year. Last year, shoppers spent $7.6 billion at family clothing stores during the month of August, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That was second only to the busy holiday shopping month of December. Bookstores recorded $2.4 billion in August 2008 – second only to January 2008.

The school shopping trend shows up in other areas, too. The totals for shoe stores ($2.9 billion) and office supply and stationary stores ($2.3 billion) posted in August 2008 were the highest of the year. That month’s reported sales in department stores, $17 billion, was the fourth-highest for the year, behind November, December and May.

August sales among retailers stocking school supplies have been climbing in recent years, with the exception of department stores. Here’s the percentage of growth, compared to 2008 numbers, in August sales, part of which can be attributed to parents shopping for school supplies:

Growth Since 2005
Family clothing stores: 15
Shoe stores: 17
Bookstores: 9
Department stores: -4
Office supply/stationary stores: 6

Growth Since 2000
Family clothing stores: 46
Shoe stores: 22
Bookstores: 51
Department stores: -12
Office supply/stationary stores: 9

Growth Since 1995
Family clothing stores: 117
Shoe stores: 41
Bookstores: 92
Department stores: -3
Office supply/stationary stores: 59

The growth in retail sales related to school supplies is pretty striking when you graph the numbers:

August_Sales_Trends

If you’re looking for deals on school supplies, check out our database.