Back-To-School Shopping Slipping Into September

MINNEAPOLIS (WCCO) -- Now that most of the kids are in school, it doesn't necessarily mean the shopping is done. This year, the back-to-school shopping season is slipping into September.

After a slow August, stores are expecting a bump now that kids have hit the classrooms and have seen what's popular.

Christa Eggimann considers herself a practical shopper. So, she avoided the rush long ago.

"I actually try to buy when things are on sale a year ahead of time, so I have a box for each of my kids and have clothes ready for the next year," said Eggiman.

However, more and more people are doing their back-to-school shopping a different way: going back after school starts.

"So you see what people are wearing and say, 'OK, I need to go get that,'" said Rachel Meldman of Mahtomedi.

Nationwide, retailers noticed a slowdown in sales while only 8 percent of parents said they'd complete their back-to-school shopping in August -- the lowest figure in four years.

Some stores are extending their sales to attract some of this after-back-to-school business and others are rethinking their strategies for next year.