Parents and students hit the stores for back to school shopping

Medford, Ore. — Just a little more than a week away from school means parents and students are hitting the stores for some back to school shopping.

The National Retail Federation’s Back-to-School Spending Survey shows families will save nearly $39 while shopping for school supplies this year compared to last.

According to the survey 30 percent of shoppers will wait until one or two weeks before school to begin shopping and more than 60 percent of them will go to discount stores.

“We’ll probably get some at the Dollar Store because it’s cheap,” said parent Ren Kolar, “then head back to Staples for the rest.”

“When we were at Walmart, I was surprised. It was really not busy in there for a Saturday right before school was starting, so it made me wonder where everyone was at,” parent Brenda Atchley commented.

Total spending is expected to reach $24.9 billion.

Despite the decrease in sales this year, families have on average spent 42 percent more on school items over the last decade.