As portable gadgets like laptop and tablet computers have become common everywhere from homes to businesses, students should not be shocked to see more of them in their classrooms this fall, especially as their schools near the full implementation of the Common Core State Standards. Based on recent data from the American Express Spending & Saving Tracker, technological gadgets are at the top of many back-to-school shopping lists.
According to the Tracker, which featured information from a random sample of 2,001 adults, technological items are at the top of many shopping lists. Their responses revealed they will spend an average of $1,094 on supplies this shopping season. Perhaps the biggest surprise to parents, however, is how many of them are buying more technology for their kids than they were last year.
For example, 25 percent of respondents are purchasing laptops, as opposed to 15 percent last year. In 2012, only 7 percent of back-to-school shoppers were buying tablets. This figure has increased to 15 percent this year. Slightly more individuals are also buying scientific calculators and mobile phones than they did in 2012.
"Items like pencils, notebooks and crayons are completely 'old school' on parents' shopping lists," said David Rabkin, senior vice president of U.S. Consumer Lending Products at American Express. "Instead, they're investing in the latest technology to help them learn, and we expect technology spending for back-to-school to only continue to increase in the years to come."
No comments yet.