Retailers Poised for Booming Back-to-School Sales, In Store and Online

ShopperTrak, the world’s largest counter and analyzer of retail foot traffic, estimates that sales this back-to-school season will increase by 4.3 percent. The company points to a lower unemployment rate as the reason, noting that consumer sentiment is at its highest level since before the recession. According to Thomson Reuters, retailers’ June sales suggest overall consumer spending is improving. Eleven stores registered a 4.8 percent jump in sales in June (at stores open at least a year), topping analysts’ expectation of a 3.6 percent increase.

The news is also bright for back-to-school sales on the web: The NPD Group predicts a 3 percent increase from last year in online shopping for back-to-school purposes. The study also reports that school shopping will happen later in the year than usual but consumers are expected to snap up more items than in the past, with price point and convenience being the driving factors behind purchases.