The monthly LinkShare affiliate newsletter has some useful statistics on back-to-school shopping.
- August 1 is when 40% of US consumers said they start back-to-school shopping, while 56% said they start between August 1 and September 1.*
- Back-to-school shopping is growing online. In 2006, more than 50% of moms surveyed said that they planed to shop online. **
- Clothing and accessories account for the biggest back-to-school spending, an estimated $7.6 billion was spent in 2006, followed by electronics and computer equipment at $3.8 billion, shoes at $3.3 billion, and school supplies at $2.9 billion.***
* NPD Group, July 2006
** PersonalShopper.com survey by MedeliaMonitor
*** BIGresearch for the National Retail Federation, July 2006
The July 30 edition of the LinkShare Deal Dispatcher will feature a special section on back-to-school promotions.