While record spending is anticipated for back-to-school season this year, consumers may experience shortages in certain areas due to high demand, reduced inventories and ongoing pandemic-related supply chain and distribution issues, as well as fewer discounts.

According to research from Toluna, the 50% of Americans doing back-to-school shopping in the month prior to classes starting will have difficulty finding everything they're looking for. Nearly a third of consumers began shopping at the beginning of the summer, Toluna said.