• August 31, 2000

Ninety percent of parents of students and college students with internet access plan to do at least some back-to-school shopping this year, and among these consumers, more than a quarter have shopped or plan to shop on the Internet, according to a new study from The NPD Group, Inc.

E-tailers serving the market may be in for more good news as most of those who said they will buy online for back-to-school also said that they plan to purchase more via the Internet this year than last. Fifty-eight percent of parents and 55% of college students who said they will purchase online indicated that their online purchasing for back-to-school is expected to be more than that of last year.

The study reveals that college students purchasing for back-to-school online or offline expect to spend a slightly greater proportion of their back-to-school dollars online than do parents of students. College students anticipate spending 13% of their dollars online, compared to 10% for parents.