WASHINGTON -- Total spending on electronics or computer-related equipment, such as home computers, laptops, PDAs, or calculators, is estimated to increase by more than $1.5 billion this year, rebounding to $3.82 billion after a sharp decline in 2005.

“The back-to-school shopping season serves as an important bellwether for the holiday season by helping retailers pinpoint emerging trends and popular products,” said Tracy Mullin, president and CEO of the National Retail Federation, which commissioned the survey. “Retailers will be tracking the performance of apparel and electronics very closely to ensure that their stores have the right merchandise mix for the fourth quarter.”

Many parents have already begun checking items off of their shopping lists as they hit the stores early to take advantage of back-to-school promotions. The survey found that one in six parents (16.5%) will begin shopping for back-to-school merchandise at least two months before school starts. Close to half (41.9%) will begin three weeks to one month before school starts, and one-in-three (32.5%) will wait until one to two weeks before school begins.