As back-to-school shopping season ramps up, most parents are planning to purchase items in-store as opposed to online, according to an annual research report from the Retail Council of Canada.

The report indicates that back-to-school is a $4.5-billion industry, driven by around 6-million K-12 students across the country.

It says the average household spends between $600 and $750 per child when electronics are involved, and 99 per cent of parents plan to do that shopping in-store.

The cost-of-living crunch is reflected in the numbers also, with 85 per cent of parents stating that they are actively seeking out deals when choosing where to shop.

For many families, back-to-school planning is already well underway. By late July, 61 per cent of parents either already started shopping, or stated that they will be beginning soon.

Those timelines also vary by the age of the students. The council says parents of young children tend to begin their shopping earlier, while those shopping for high school students are more likely to do so without any advance planning.

Meanwhile, the report also notes the use of AI is creeping in to how parents are planning for September. The council states that 44 per cent are either already using it, or are “very interested” in using it to help build lists, compare prices, or to identify where to start.