Back-to-School Sales Hitting Stores Early

iStockphoto/Thinkstock(NEW YORK) -- School may be out for the summer, and while the fall semester is still months away, that isn't stopping stores from launching back-to-school sales.

Economist Burt Flickinger says many retailers suffered a sales slump in April and May, and have decided to launch back-to-school sales to try and grab some of the $87 billion that are expected to be spent on school supplies this year.

Flickinger says parents may not spend money on themselves, especially in a sluggish economy, but they will always spend money for their children.

Copyright 2012 ABC News Radio