Expect area retailers to pull out all the stops as the start of the back-to-school shopping season approaches.

“This period is really a retail barometer. If you have a strong back-to-school period, you’re likely going to see a strong holiday period,” said Tom Saquella, president of the Maryland Retailers Association. “The retailers are going to promote every sale and discount they can think of.”

Maryland’s retail industry has had a rough 2008 to this point, with state sales tax receipts down 6 percent in June from the year before, according to recent data from the Comptroller’s Office. Most retailers are preparing for the back-to-school rush with “a lot of trepidation,” Saquella said.

Housing market troubles and rising food and energy prices are accounting for a sizable share of consumers’ expenditures. “It’s still not a very good retail environment,” Saquella said.

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Across the country, families with kindergarten- to high school-age children are expected to spend about $594 each on back-to-school merchandise this year, according to a survey administered by the Washington-based National Retail Federation.

Average back-to-school spending is expected to increase by about 5.5 percent this year, up from about $563 per family last year. In total, back-to-school spending is expected to reach $20.1 billion this year, up from $18.4 billion last year, according to the survey.

Parents will continue to spend the most on clothing and accessories during the back-to-school season. Clothing spending is expected to reach more than $7.9 billion this year.

Spending on electronics and school supplies is expected to increase by 21 percent and 8 percent, respectively. About 20 percent of parents nationwide will use a portion of their stimulus rebate for back-to-school purchases, according to the survey.

“While cost will be the deciding factor, some families will use rebate checks to soften the blow, taking advantage of promotions and deals when they can,” said Tracy Mullin, the NRF’s president and chief executive officer.

Back-to-college spending, however, is expected to decrease this year, with the average person spending about 7 percent less than last year, according to the survey. The average college student will spend about $599 this year, down from about $641 last year, spending less on clothing and dorm furnishings from last year.

acannarsa@baltimoreexaminer.com