1.
2017
BACK TO SCHOOL &
BACK TO COLLEGE
NRF and Prosper Insights & Analytics

2.
HISTORICAL BACK-TO-SCHOOL AND COLLEGE SPENDING
(Total Spending in Billions)
Back-to-School Combined Total Spending:
2007-2017
Back-to-College Combined Total Spending:
2009-2017
$$1188..44
$$2200..11
$$1177..44
$$2211..44
$$2222..88
$$3300..33
$$2266..77
$$2266..55
$$2244..99
$15.0
$20.0
$25.0
$30.0
$35.0
$40.0
$45.0
$50.0
$55.0
$60.0
2007 2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016 2017
$$4411..22
$$4455..88
$$4466..00
$$5533..55
$$4455..88
$$4488..44
$$4433..11
2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
$15.0
$20.0
$25.0
$30.0
$35.0
$40.0
$45.0
$50.0
$55.0
$60.0
$27.3
$29.5
2017
$48.5
$54.1
Back-to-school spending is expected to reach $29.5 billion this year, up from $27.3 billion in 2016. Back-to-
college spending has also seen an increase, totaling an expected $54.1 billion, compared with $48.5 billion
last year. Total combined spending is expected to reach $83.6 billion.
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
nrf.com/backtoschool

3.
10 YEARS OF BACK-TO-SCHOOL SPENDING
PER HOUSEHOLD
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
$630.36
$673.57
$415.00
$515.00
$615.00
$715.00
$15.00
$115.00
$215.00
$315.00
Back-to-School Spending Per Household: 2007-2017
$563.49
$594.24
$548.72
$606.40
$603.63
$688.62
$634.78
$669.28
20172007
$687.72
Overall back-to-school spending is up from last year with shoppers
spending an average of $688 compared with $674 last year.
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
nrf.com/backtoschool

4.
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
MOST BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPERS WILL SPEND
THEIR BUDGET ON APPAREL AND ELECTRONICS
Back-to-school shoppers plan to spend an average of $688,
of which 64% will be spent on apparel and electronics.
$50.00
$100.00
$150.00
$200.00
$250.00
2016
Back-to-School Spending by Category: 2007-2017
Clothing and
accessories
Shoes
School supplies
Electronics
2008 2009 2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015
$238.89
$204.33
$130.38
$114.12
$235.39
$204.06
$126.55
$107.76
20172007
$217.82
$197.24
$117.56
$97.74
$94.02
$108.42$129.24
$231.80
$98.37
$109.75
$151.61
$234.51
$82.62
$93.59
$167.84
$204.67
$96.39
$102.93
$181.61
$225.47
$88.99
$104.53
$189.51
$220.60
$95.44
$129.20
$217.88
$246.10
$90.49
$114.39
$199.05
$230.85
$101.18
$124.46
$212.35
$231.30
nrf.com/backtoschool

5.
BACK-TO-COLLEGE SPENDING SINCE 2009
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 2016
$899.18
$888.71
$969.88
$415.00
$515.00
$615.00
$715.00
$15.00
$115.00
$215.00
$315.00
$845.98
$835.73
$808.71
$907.22
$836.83
$916.48 2017
$815.00
$915.00
2009
Back-to-College Spending Per Household: 2009-2017
Overall back-to-college spending is up from last year with shoppers spending an
average of $970 compared with $889 in 2016.
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
nrf.com/backtoschool

6.
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
MOST COLLEGE SHOPPERS WILL SPEND THEIR
BUDGET ON APPAREL AND ELECTRONICS
In addition to items like electronics, dorm furnishings and apparel, back-to-college season is also a time for
consumers to stock up on nonessentials such as college-branded gear, food and personal care items to help them get
through the school semester. In total, these nonessentials make up 35% of back-to-college household spending.
$50.00
$100.00
$150.00
$200.00
$250.00
2016
Back-to-College Spending by Category: 2009-2017
Clothing and
accessories
Shoes
Personal care items
Gift cards or
prepaid cards
Collegiate gear
Food items
Dorm or apartment
furnishings
School supplies
Electronics
2010 2011 2012 2013 2014 2015 20172009
$229.20
$142.90
$134.20
$105.58
$81.00
$81.38
$70.08
$68.99
$56.57
nrf.com/backtoschool

7.
WHERE WILL CONSUMERS SHOP DURING
BACK-TO-CLASS SEASON?
Back-to-school and college shoppers are purchasing across a variety of store types –
from department stores to clothing or electronics stores.
Department
store
Discount
store
Clothing store Online Office
supply
Electronics
store
Online Discount
store
Department
store
College
bookstore
Office
supply
Clothing store
Where Back-to-School
Consumers Plan to Shop
(Only showing top responses)
Where Back-to-College
Consumers Plan to Shop
(Only showing top responses)
57.1%
46.0%
35.6%
44.1%
38.5%
29.1%
54.1%
45.5%
24.6%
40.0%
33.5%
26.2%
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
nrf.com/backtoschool

8.
26.1%
33.8%
25.1%
6.4%
8.5%
27.1%
46.7%
21.0%
2.1% 3.1%
31.9%
34.6%
20.7%
7.0% 5.8%
2016 2017
When Back-to-School
Shoppers Plan to Shop
2016 2017
When Back-to-College
Shoppers Plan to Shop
At least 2
months before
school starts
3 weeks to 1
month before
school starts
One to two
weeks before
school starts
The week
school starts
After school
starts
At least 2
months before
school starts
3 weeks to 1
month before
school starts
1-2 weeks
before
school starts
The week
school starts
After school
starts
22.2%
50.9%
22.1%
2.1% 2.7%
MORE BACK-TO-SCHOOL AND COLLEGE
SHOPPERS ARE STARTING EARLY
Both back-to-school and college shoppers are starting even earlier this year. Approximately
three in 10 plan to shop at least two months before school starts, a 22% increase compared
with last year.
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
nrf.com/backtoschool

9.
SHOPPERS PLAN TO TAKE ADVANTAGE OF FREE SHIPPING
Roughly nine in 10 back-to-school and college shoppers will take advantage of free shipping;
around half will buy online and pickup in store.
Reserve online Same-day delivery
Do you plan to take advantage of any of the following shipping services
when shopping online for back-to-school/back-to-college this year?
Back to School Back to College
Free shipping Expedited shipping OtherBuy online,
pick up in store
/ Ship to store
90.5%
54.0%
14.1%
7.8%
10.0%
0.5%
88.7%
44.3%
16.3%
7.6% 9.4%
1.3%
When it comes to back-to-school
shopping, women are significantly
more likely to use buy online, pickup
in store / ship to store, while men are
significantly more likely to utilize
expedited shipping.
Slicing and dicing the data:
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
nrf.com/backtoschool

10.
$655.8
$83.6
$23.6 $18.4 $18.2
$0.0
$100.0
$200.0
$300.0
$400.0
$500.0
$600.0
$700.0
Winter Holidays* Mother's Day EasterBack to School
/College
Total Spending (in billions)
Only showing top five holidays with highest spending
Valentine's Day
TOP FIVE SPENDING HOLIDAYS
Unlike Christmas or other gift-giving holidays, back-to-school and college spending are
“needs-driven” and not discretionary. However, back-to-school and college is the second biggest
consumer spending season for retailers.
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Spending Survey conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
*Source: NRF forecast
nrf.com/backtoschool

11.
WHAT’S LEFT FOR BACK-TO-SCHOOL SHOPPERS
Back-to-school shoppers aren’t quite done tackling their lists: 64% have completed half or
less of their purchases and still have more supplies, clothing, shoes and electronics to buy.
78.9%
57.7%
1.1%
75.4%
21.2%
0% 1% – 10% 11% – 25% 26% – 50% 51% – 75% 76% – 99% 100% School supplies Clothing and
accessories
Shoes Electronics or
computer-related
equipment
Other
Percent of Back-to-School Shopping Completed So Far Items Back-to-School Shoppers Still Need to Buy
23.1%
12.6%
14.1%
10.8%
17.8%
8.6%
13.0%
64% have completed half or less of
their back-to-school purchases.
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Shopping Update Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
nrf.com/backtoschool

12.
WHAT’S LEFT FOR BACK-TO-COLLEGE SHOPPERS
Back-to-college shoppers aren’t done either: 64% have completed half or less of their purchases
and still have more to buy from school supplies and electronics to dorm or apartment furnishings.
0% 1% – 10% 11% – 25% 26% – 50% 51% – 75% 76% – 99% 100%
60.5%
School
supplies
33.1%
Shoes
32.1%
Personal
care items
30.2%
Food
items
28.9%
Electronics or
computer-
related
equipment
22.4%
Dorm or
apartment
furnishings
18.7%
Collegiate
branded
gear or
supplies
8.2%
Gift cards
or pre-paid
cards
3.9%
Other
Percent of Back-to-College Shopping Completed So Far Items Back-to-College Shoppers Still Need to Buy
25.6%
13.2% 14.0%
8.8%
16.2%
9.8%
12.4%
64% have completed half or less of
their back-to-college purchases.
Clothing and
accessories
51.3%
Source: 2017 NRF Back-to-School/College Shopping Update Survey, conducted by Prosper Insights & Analytics
nrf.com/backtoschool

13.
NRF/Prosper Insights & Analytics’ Back-to-School Spending
Survey polls more than 7,000 consumers each year and
has a margin of error between +/- 1.2 percentage points.
nrf.com/backtoschool