Nevada Families Spend Millions on Back-to-School Prep

Nevada families spent an estimated $525.1 million on back-to-school preparations this year, according to the Retail Association of Nevada (RAN), a slight decrease of 0.5 percent compared to last year.

Of the total spending, $369.1 million was on K-12 students, marking a 0.7 percent decrease from the previous year. Electronics was the highest amount, at $130.5 million. Clothing and accessories accounted for $106.9 million, followed by shoes at $71.9 million and school supplies at $59.8 million.

Nationally, households with K-12 students spent $38.8 billion, averaging $874.68 per family, a 1.7 percent decrease from the 2023 average of $890.07, according to the National Retail Federation (NRF).

For college students, who number approximately 114,000 across Nevada’s public and private institutions, RAN estimated that back-to-school spending reached $156.1 million. Electronics again topped the spending list at $41.1 million, followed by dorm and apartment furnishings at $22 million, clothing and accessories at $19.6 million, and food expenses at $17.1 million.

Nationally, college students’ spending totaled $86.6 billion, with an average of $1,364.75 per household, reflecting a minor 0.2 percent decrease from last year.

In shopping preferences, 57 percent of back-to-school shoppers and 50 percent of back-to-college shoppers turned to online retail sites. Department stores were popular among 50 percent of K-12 shoppers and 35 percent of college shoppers.

Other preferred shopping destinations include discount stores, favored by 47 percent of K-12 shoppers and 31 percent of college shoppers, and clothing stores, which were popular with 42 percent of K-12 shoppers. Meanwhile, 23 percent of K-12 shoppers preferred electronics stores, while college students frequented office supply stores and college bookstores, with 26 percent shopping both.