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Back-to-school shopping getting more stressful for parents

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August 12, 2026

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Nearly half of consumers, 48%, shopping for back-to-school items are projected to spend more this year with 13% spending less than in 2025.

Those are top findings from PayPal research that also revealed that over half of parents, 57%, view back-to-school shopping as stressful as holiday shopping and 53% stating it's even more stressful than in 2025.

The survey was conducted by Morning Consult and polled 3,000 U.S. parents, according to a press release.

Clothing and shoes remain the largest spending category, with nearly six in 10 parents expecting to spend between $100 and $500, while nearly one in five expect to spend more than $500 on apparel alone.

Nearly two-thirds (64%) say they would prefer one app where they can find deals, shop and pay, while 68% believe doing so would make back-to-school shopping less stressful.

More than half of parents (57%) said they're more likely to shop with retailers that offer flexible payment options, while 56% say Buy Now, Pay Later helps them better manage back-to-school costs.