More families shop early for back-to-school

More families shop early for back-to-school Families are finishing more of their back-to-school shopping earlier this year than last year, according to a survey released Thursday.

The survey, from the National Retail Foundation, found that American families had already completed 43.2 percent of their shopping, compared with 41.6 percent this time last year.

Some retailers have said in recent days that they expect consumers to shop later in the back-to-school season. The NRF report said about a quarter of families, and more than a third of families with college-aged students, haven't started shopping yet.

The NRF, the world's largest retail trade association, said in July it expected Americans to spend $55.12 billion on back-to-school items this year and said back-to-school sales would be the first real test for retailers and the economy leading up to right the holidays.