Memory, Headphones, Laptops, Software Lead Back-to-School Tech Buys, Says CTA

Tech will consume a bigger share of back-to-school spending, projected at $19.9 billion for this season, said a Thursday CEA report saying 63 percent of Americans have technology on their school shopping lists, up 4 percentage points from last year. Six of the top 10 tech back-to-school shopping list items are accessories, said Steve Koenig, senior director-market research, citing high attachment rates for computing products. Leading tech on school shopping lists are portable memory, calculators, headphones, laptop PCs, software or subscriptions, carrying or protective cases, portable power, wireless mice and keyboards, tablets and smartphones, said CTA. Some 88 percent of back-to-school shoppers plan to buy at a brick-and-mortar mass merchant store, 56 percent at a physical office supply store and 44 percent online, it said. The report was based on June survey findings from 1,007 U.S. adults ages 18 or older.