Sixty-three percent of consumers plan to spend up to $500 on back-to-school shopping, according to PriceGrabber® survey

LOS ANGELES, July 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- PriceGrabber® just released additional results from their 2012 Back-to-School Shopping Forecast survey, showing more signs of economic recovery. The survey revealed that 63 percent of consumers plan to spend up to $500 this back-to-school shopping season (compared to 48 percent in 2011). Twenty percent of respondents plan to spend between $500 and $1,000 and 17 percent of shoppers said they don't have a back-to-school shopping budget this year.

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In June, PriceGrabber released initial back to school survey results indicating nearly half (46 percent) of consumers are planning to spend more this back-to-school shopping season than in 2011. Conducted from to May 22 to June 5, 2012, the survey includes responses from 4,450 U.S. online shopping consumers, with 1,509 of the respondents planning to shop this back-to-school season. 

Classic school supplies and back to school clothing top consumers' shopping lists
Although tech product purchases are on the rise, consumers are once again putting basic school clothing and supplies at the top of their back-to-school shopping lists. When PriceGrabber survey respondents were asked to select all of the items they plan to purchase this back-to-school shopping season, 83 percent selected general school supplies such as notebooks, binders, and pencils. Seventy-nine percent of consumers plan to send their children back to school in style with new clothing; 51 percent said they plan to purchase a back-pack or tote bag; and 50 percent of shoppers said they plan to purchase books.

Forty percent of shoppers plan to purchase a tech item this back-to-school season
This year, consumers are branching out, setting their sights on laptops and tablets for tech-savvy students heading back to school. According to PriceGrabber survey results, 40 percent of respondents plan to purchase a tech-type item as part of their back-to-school shopping. When those respondents were asked to select all of the types of tech-related products they plan to purchase, 50 percent indicated a new laptop splurge and 49 percent selected a tablet computer. Twenty-eight percent of shoppers indicated they plan to purchase a Smartphone and 10 percent selected a desktop computer.

"Shoppers are looking to purchase the basics again this year with general school supplies and clothing topping back-to-school lists, according to our survey data," said Graham Jones, general manager of PriceGrabber. "PriceGrabber survey data also shows an increased consumer appetite for tech products with more back-to-school shoppers planning to purchase electronic tablets this year compared to 2011. Tablet computers are lighter in weight and more portable allowing students to carry them from class to class and providing back-to-school shoppers with an alternative to more expensive laptops."

More shoppers are planning to purchase online this year
Many savvy consumers are utilizing the Internet this year to take advantage of the latest and greatest back-to-school shopping deals coupled with in-store purchases. When PriceGrabber survey respondents were asked to select the method in which they plan to purchase back-to-school items this year, 79 percent indicated they plan to shop online compared to 69 percent in 2011.

"We suspect that given the large of amount of back-to-school shoppers who said they will shop online, many are planning to do so in order to comparison shop, set price alerts, find coupons, and take advantage of last-minute discounts, free shipping and price drops," added Jones. "It seems that consumers are becoming more open to exploring creative options for saving money, so it's no surprise to us that they are flocking to the Internet to utilize its ability to save shoppers time and money."

INFOGRAPHIC: http://i.pgcdn.com/images/infographics/back2school_survey1_image2.jpg

About PriceGrabber.com®
PriceGrabber is a leading online shopping site with more than 23 million unique shoppers monthly. At PriceGrabber, savvy shoppers can instantly find and compare millions of unique products and services across 25 categories with more than 11,000 merchants. Compare products side by side to find the right retailers at the best prices within popular categories, such as Digital Cameras, TVs, Electronics, Computers, Clothing, Books, and more. PriceGrabber provides shoppers with the right product from the right merchant at the best price anytime, anywhere. Visit us at http://www.pricegrabber.com.

SOURCE PriceGrabber.com