Spending plans Spending plans
Student influence
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THE PARENT PERSPECTIVE THE STUDENT PERSPECTIVE
Category spend Category spend
Purchase power
Digital influence
Back to College 2016
$1,345 average total spending estimated by parents - similar to
last year
$1,082 average total spending estimated by students
Spending peaks with freshman and declines in the senior year
67% plan to use debit cards – the group’s primary method of payment
67% plan to use credit cards – the group’s primary method
of payment
16% expect their kids to contribute more than half of budget
57% say they will contribute more than half of budget
75% say shopping is heavily influenced by the student
83% will buy used books to stretch the budget
90% expect to shop before mid-August
Top destinations are bookstores (63%) and discount/value department stores (53%)
86% expect to begin shopping by mid-August
In-store purchases still prevail
Top destinations are bookstores (71%) and online stores (64%)
Expect to spend almost as much online as in-store
82% research online before buying in the physical store
79% will seek out free shipping
87% will shop throughout the summer to take advantage of deals
Early & in-store
86%College supplies $521
$312
$253
$321
$673
$392
$388
$202
$196
$473
$279
$378
75%Clothing & accessories
61%Household appliances & supplies
47%Dorm furniture & supplies
36%Computers & hardware
21%Electronic gadgets
Plan to buy Averagespend
Plan to buy Averagespend
Electronic gadgets 32%
Dorm furniture & supplies 40%
Computers & hardware 44%
Household appliances & supplies 55%
Clothing & accessories
79%
College supplies
94%
Copyright © 2016 Deloitte Development LLC. All rights reserved.
Source: Deloitte Back-to-College Survey 2016
#1 use of smartphone in
shopping journey: find store location
45% will use social media to inform their purchase decisions
#1 use of social media in
shopping journey: view promotions
Device most often used for shopping: smartphone – by of shoppers71%
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