WILMINGTON, NC (WWAY) — Stores across the Cape Fear will be bustling this weekend as families stock up on back-to-school essentials, from notebooks and pencils to clothes and shoes.
According to the National Retail Federation, families with students in elementary, middle, and high school will spend an average of about $875 per child.
Shopper Leah Myers has two children and says it’s important to make sure what you buy now will last the entire school year.
“Apart from supplies for the first week or so of school, getting them to last the whole year is a challenge, and it’s all about how sturdy the items are, how long they last and how durable they are, especially with clothes and shoes,” Myers says. “So quality is just as important as price.”
North Carolina Attorney General Josh Stein said reinstating the state’s tax-free weekend program would provide some relief to parents and teachers alike.
“In these times of rising costs, we want to make it less expensive to get our kids ready for school,” Stein said. “Having a weekend sales tax holiday allows parents to care for their children and helps teachers prepare their classrooms.”
Even college students like Tema Jimenez and Mia Thompson are feeling the financial strain of back-to-school shopping.
“I think it’s more expensive now because we want more clothes, more variety, and shoes, and to be fashion-forward,” Jimenez said.
“Yeah, basic things are definitely still more expensive. When I go to buy notebooks for class or whatever, it feels like everything has gone up a few dollars,” Thompson said. “I can’t find anything at regular price anymore.”
The National Retail Federation said it expects total back-to-school spending nationwide to reach about $39 billion this year.
