BALTIMORE (Map, News) - The first day of school is just around the corner for area students.

Parents and their school-age children will flock to malls over the next few weeks to purchase clothes, shoes and supplies for the fast-approaching beginning of the school year, said Carmel Gambacorta, senior marketing manager at Harborplace and The Gallery in Baltimore City.

“Summer is already our busiest time, and the back-to-school rush is kind of the finale for the big shopping season,” Gambacorta said.

Clothing stores, such as Levi’s, Gap and Urban Outfitters, should see sales increase in the weeks before classes begin, Gambacorta said.

Families with school-age children are expected to spend about $563 each on back-to-school merchandise this year, according to a survey administered by the National Retail Federation (NRF), a retail trade association based in Washington.

Average back-to-school spending is expected to increase by about 7 percent this year, up from about $527 per family last year. In total, back-to-school spending is expected to reach $18.4 billion this year, up from about $17.6 billion last year, according to the NRF survey.

Parents will continue to spend the most on clothing and accessories during the back-to-school season. Clothing spending is expected to reach about $7.6 billion this year. Spending on electronics and shoes is expected to increase by 13 percent and 10 percent, respectively, according to the NRF survey.

“Electronics have evolved from luxuries to necessities, not only for college students but also for their younger siblings,” Tracy Mullin, president and chief executive officer of the NRF, said in a statement.

ShopInLaurel.com has helped parents handle the cost of back-to-school shopping. The local merchant directory donated $2,000 worth of supplies to Deerfield Run Elementary School in Prince George’s County, providing the school with 50 backpacks filled with school supplies.

“We’re lucky to have a very community-minded group of business owners in our program,” Glenn Garnes of ShopInLaurel.com said.

Average back-to-school spending per family

» Clothing and accessories: $231.80

» Electronics, computer equipment: $129.24

» Shoes: $108.42

» School supplies: $94.02

» Total: $563.48

Source: National Retail Federation

acannarsa@baltimoreexaminer.com