Aussie Back to School Sales to Book up Billions of Dollars

Australians are expected to spend $2.5 billion (US$1.7 billion) on back to school purchases, with stationary, uniforms and footwear the most common buys. The inaugural Australian Retailers Association (ARA) research found about five million Australians would spend an average of $512 (US$338) each on school supplies. Forty-four percent said they would spend more than last year while 22 percent said their bill would be about the same, the research done in partnership with Roy Morgan showed. The most popular purchases would be stationary, school uniforms, footwear, books and lunch boxes. ARA chief executive Paul Zahra said the projected spend on back to school items was a positive sign for retailers....