(NBC News) Back-to-school shopping season has arrived. Parents and students are expected to spend $83 billion this year on clothing, supplies and electronics.
"Most of that is going to come from our college shoppers, a little over $55 billion from families who are shopping for their kids in college," notes Karen Cullen of the National Retail Federation.
Cullen says at least half the parents of school-age children have started shopping, often with the child's advice.
"If you have kids in the household, you probably know they have their own opinions on what they should buy and what you should buy, and back to school is definitely an example of that," she says.
A handful of states still offer sales tax holidays.