Back-to-school retail sales are projected to grow this year after a lackluster 2009 season.
The National Retail Federation is forecasting that the average U.S. family will spend $606 this year on back- to-school clothing, supplies and electronics, a 10.4 percent increase from last year’s $549.
The International Council of Shopping Centers is estimating an increase of 5.4 percent compared with last year.
Research economist Emily Stuart of Jefferson County- based Development Research Partners said Colorado sales for the back-to-school season are likely to rise this year even though consumers are wary about the economy.
“There is still a lot of concern out there about jobs, which translates into income and spending,” Stuart said. “But there is reason to expect we may do better than we did last year.”
Through April, retail sales in Colorado were up 2.6 percent compared with the same period in 2009. Steve Raabe, The Denver Post
