Record spending projected for 2020 back-to-school shopping

COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. (KRDO) - COVID-19 could push back to school spending to record levels, according to an annual survey by the National Retail Federation.

88 percent of people surveyed by the National Retail Federation said COVID-19 will impact the way they go back to school shopping this year.

Many parents plan to do more online shopping, and more shopping in general.

The National Retail Federation says parents plan to spend nearly 790 dollars back to school shopping on average, topping last year's record of expected spending.

Some people we spoke with here in Colorado Springs found that statistic surprising.

"Everyone's at home on their laptops or iPads just taking online classes," said dad Roy Swiney.

Others said that sounds about right, especially for in-person learning.

"They can't share their pencils, crayons, nothing -- Rulers, everything's going to be separate. So they're going to have a lot more stuff," mom Stefani Peretz explained.

If you want to save a few extra bucks this year, retail experts are reminding parents and students to shop now because most back to school sales end the first week of September.