Survey: Back-to-School sales expected to see 5.4% increase

A survey released Thursday by the International Council of Shopping Centers found that the back-to-school spending season is forecast to increase 5.4% over last year.In 2009, the retail store categories that the U.S. Commerce Department segments as back-to-school -- family clothing, shoes, electronics and books -- dropped 2.8%; in 2008, they dipped 0.4%.July 2009 back-to-school sales were particularly weak, declining 5.9%.“Based on arithmetic alone, the expected July jump in BTS spending could be extremely strong,” said Michael P. Niemira, chief economist and director of research for ICSC. “Layer on some fundamental improvement in the consumer economy, including some pickup