Changing economic conditions and spending power are key influences on the intended buying habits of Back-To-School shoppers this year, according to a new survey of 1,000 U.S. families with school-aged children. The Footwear Distributors and Retailers Association (FDRA) +FFANY survey was conducted from July 21-24.

Among key survey findings:

• Some 69 percent of surveyed families will make their B-T-S footwear purchases from the third week of July until mid-August, 20 percent more than in the same 2022 timeframe.
  

• Approximately 80 percent of low- to middle-income families will shop in physical stores this B-T-S because they believe the best deals will be found there.
  

• Some 53 percent of families intend to spend less than $60 per pair versus 41 percent who did that last B-T-S. Only 7 percent of respondents said they were willing to pay over $100 for a pair of shoes for their child versus 18 percent in 2022.
  

• Shopping at local stores increases with age, 56 percent of those 50 to age 64 will shop local versus 48 percent of shoppers in the 18 to 34 age group.
  

• Fifty-two percent of B-T-S shoppers expect to purchase two pairs of shoes per child versus 48 percent in 2022; 11 percent of shoppers intend to purchase three pairs per child, down from 18 percent last year.