More Than Beer and Pizza: Back-to-College Sales Expected to Exceed $47 Billion

* Students and parents are expected to spend a combined average of $956.93 on back-to-college merchandise, up from last year’s average of $880.52;

* Spending on textbooks will exceed $15 billion;

* Spending on clothing and accessories is expected to jump to $7.41 billion, up from last year’s $5.78 billion;