SPEAK OUT: Back-to-School Spending Averages in Hundreds of Dollars

Six-hundred, eight-eight dollars and 62 cents.

That is the amount the average person with children in grades kindergarten to 12th grade is expected to spend this year on back-to-school shopping, according to the National Retail Federation's annual survey. 

Last year, the survey predicted families would spend $603.63 on back-to-school shopping. 

Parents surveyed said they would spend the most on clothing, accessories and electronics as the first day approaches -- Aug. 20 in Prince George's County and Aug. 27 in Montgomery County. 

The average person with children in grades K-12 will spend $246.10 on clothes, $217.88 on electronics, $129.20 on shoes, and $95.44 on school supplies (e.g., notebooks, pencils and backpacks), according to the National Retail Federation.

In addition, about six in 10 people said they would invest in some sort of electronic device, according to the survey. This is up from 51.9 percent who planned to buy an electronic device last year.

Most public schools in Montgomery and Prince George's Counties don't require electronic devices like tablets and e-readers, but . 

Tell us in the comments: Have you started your back-to-school shopping? Are you spending more or less this school season?

Alexandra Scarfone contributed to this report.