According to an annual back-to-school survey conducted by Myvesta, a nonprofit consumer education organization, Americans plan to spend $205 more this year on back-to-school expenses.

These results reverse a downward trend in expenditures seen from 2000 to 2003.

The average shopper plans to spend $3,389 this year, up 6.5 percent from $3,184 in 2003. But, while consumers plan on spending slightly more this year, the average back-to-school expenses are still below the average of $4,144 in 2002, $5,033 in 2001 and $5,423 in 2000.

"While our economy has seen some slow growth in 2004, it hasn’t translated into more spending money for American families," said Pam Rhode, president of Myvesta. "People are still looking to make their back-to-school dollars go farther."

The Myvesta survey was conducted July 30 through Aug. 1 in a random telephone poll of 1,000 adult Americans. Each respondent was asked about their back-to-school purchases for themselves, family members and others. Almost 43 percent of those polled plan on spending under $1,000 on back-to-school expenses in 2004. The average spending in each of seven categories includes:

Electronics: $393 in 2004, $327 in 2003; clothing: $431 in 2004, $514 in 2003; fees: $1,455 in 2004, $1,301 in 2003; dorm room supplies: $178 in 2004, $134 in 2003; desk supplies: $142 in 2004, $141 in 2003; transportation: $1,030 in 2004, $862 in 2003; sporting activities: $207 in 2004, $198 in 2003; total for back-to-school: $3,389 in 2004, $3,184 in 2003.

The largest increases in back-to-school shopping include spending on electronics, dorm room supplies and transportation. Consumers plan on spending 20 percent more on electronics, 33 percent more on dorm room supplies and 19.5 percent on transportation related expenses. The only decrease in spending was a 16 percent drop in clothing purchases.

The survey showed that 58.5 percent of American adults will head to the mall for some back-to-school shopping.

"Many people don’t realize the true expenses of back-to-school shopping," Rhode said. "On top of the usual pencils and notebooks, students today are required to pay for electronics such as graphing calculators and computers. And, as many school systems are facing tight budgets of their own, costs for sports and extracurricular activities are being passed along to parents."

According to Rhode, back-to-school is the most expensive time of year and part of the "trifecta of debt," which also includes vacation spending and holiday shopping. In comparison, the average American spent $2,252 on their summer vacation this year and $835 on their holiday purchases in 2003.

If this year’s average back-to-school expenses of $3,389 are charged on a credit card and only the minimum monthly payment is made, it will take 39.5 years to pay off and cost an additional $9,098 in interest payments. That calculation uses an 18 percent interest rate and a monthly minimum payment of 2 percent.

"While back-to-school can be a very expensive time of year, it doesn’t mean you have to go in debt to send your kids to school," Rhode said. "Have your children make up lists of everything they want, then go through the list with them to determine what the child actually needs. Shop at discount stores and check your Sunday paper for sales to stock up on inexpensive items like crayons and paper. But, most importantly, back-to-school will come again at the same time next year, and it never hurts to plan ahead."

For information and money-saving tips on back-to-school shopping, read the Myvesta publication, "Back to School: How to save money and teach your kids at the same time." For printed copies, send $2.50 payable to Myvesta, Back-To-School publication, P.O. Box 8587, Gaithersburg, MD 20898-8587. It can also be downloaded free from Myvesta.org.