The first-ever GMA/Ipsos Parents poll finds that a majority of parents with children in kindergarten through 12th grade say prices for things they normally buy for back-to-school shopping are more expensive this year than last year, and they expect to spend nearly $900 per child this year on items to get them ready to go back to the classroom.
The poll, which surveyed U.S. parents of children under 18 with children entering kindergarten through 12th grade, finds 68% saying things they normally buy are more expensive this year than they were last year, while 30% say prices are about the same.
Although parents across the board have noticed higher prices, just 4 in 10 overall say they expect to spend more money on back-to-school shopping this year. Another 46% say they are planning to spend the same amount, and just 13% say they expect to spend less this year.
In all, parents expect to spend an average of $885 per child this year on back-to-school shopping. That includes an average of $337 on items for after-school activities, including sports; $275 on clothing and shoes; $118 on school supplies, including backpacks and lunchboxes; $102 on technology, including tablets, laptops, and calculators; and $52 on books.
Parents of high schoolers and middle schoolers say they expect to spend far more on clothing and shoes on average ($332 and $290, respectively) than elementary school parents ($218).
Black parents on average expect to spend more on clothing and shoes ($447) than Hispanic ($300), white ($239) or Asian parents ($211).