NEW YORK -- Supermarkets can hope to gain incremental dollars spent on back-to-school merchandise this summer, according to numbers released here last week by American Express.
hopping. Teens alone are expected to spend $124 on BTS purchases, 10% more than the $113 they spent a year ago.
"Our survey indicates that parents are feeling confident about the future and plan to indulge during the 2000 back-to-school shopping season," said John Theiss, vice president of retail industries for American Express.
As in past years, the 2000 BTS shopping season began this month, with 26% of surveyed parents reported shopping for BTS needs and 37% saying they would begin shopping in the next few weeks. Survey results indicate that teens procrastinate when it comes to BTS purchases. Only 12% of teens started shopping in July, and 28% said they would put off BTS shopping until late August, compared with 20% of parents.
