School shopping no spree in slow economy
8.18.10 – Dread puts parents in delay. Big prices and small budgets have turned the once pleasant annual purchasing party into an allegory of a flagging economy, producing parental angst and industry cheerleaders who urge the moms and dads to at least “buy American.”
Shiny new shoes, pristine No. 2 pencils, a snappy lunchbox: Back-to-school shopping was once a welcomed ritual, an autumnal rite for parent and child.
No more. Big prices and small budgets have turned the once pleasant annual purchasing party into an allegory of a flagging economy, producing parental angst and industry cheerleaders who urge the moms and dads to at least “buy American.”
The days of shelling out a sensible or at least comfortable amount for junior’s school needs are gone. On average, American parents spend from $545 to $671 per child, according to the National Retail Federation. Costs for college-bound offspring are in the $900 range. The official “BTS” (back-to-school) industry annually tops $67 billion, the group said.
Meanwhile, “BTSD” (back-to-school dread) has ensued.
Even as the first day of school looms, parents are in delay mode. Almost two-thirds have not figured out how much they can spend this year, while 55 percent have not purchased a single item, says the Chase Slate-U.S. News Consumer Monitor, which has plumbed the parental psyche in a survey that reveals worry and, yes, denial.
Souce: www.educationnews.org
By: Jennifer Harper – The Washington Times
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