Back-to-School Shopping Will Slip This Fall

According to the 2001 American Express Retail Index, parents'and teens'expenditures on back-to-school needs will be 4 percent lower this year than last.

On average, said the study, parents'back-to-school budget per child will hold steady in 2001 — $426 per household versus $424 in 2000. But teens will contribute, on average, $101 for back-to-school purchases, down $23 – or 19 percent – from $124 in 2000.

Nearly all parents (90 percent) plan to buy clothing and school supplies for their children this year. Other items on parents'shopping lists include sneakers (76 percent) and shoes (74 percent). Nearly 90 percent of teens also plan to buy clothing for the new school year. Teens expect to buy mostly jeans (46 percent), followed by shirts and tops (40 percent), accessories such as backpacks, belts and jewelry (24 percent) and sneakers (24 percent).