Back-to-School Shopping Trends - Two-thirds of American families with school-aged children have already started back-to-school shopping [2] - The National Retail Federation estimates an average household will spend approximately $858 on back-to-school items [5] - Spending includes electronics, clothing/accessories ($250-$300 each), shoes, and school supplies [5] Financial Concerns - 39% of Americans report they cannot afford back-to-school shopping [6] - 44% of Americans plan to incur debt to purchase school supplies [6] Impact of Tariffs and Inflation - Shoppers are buying early due to concerns that tariffs will further increase prices [2] - Back-to-school essentials like backpacks and pencils are noticeably more expensive than last year due to inflation [3] - Producer Price Index indicates price increases in categories like luggage, pencils, marking devices, and tablets, with increases exceeding 15% [8] - The current tariff rate on goods from China is 30% [9] Recommendations - Avoid panic buying, as the implementation of new tariffs may take months [10]