There's no Santa Claus in Bermuda shorts greeting customers, but maybe there should be.

Retailers are wrapping up what for many is the second most important selling period of the year.

The National Retail Federation estimates back-to-school expenditures will exceed $18 billion for kindergarten through 12th grade students. Families with children of school age are expected to spend an average of $563.49 on school-related merchandise, which represents an increase of 6.9 percent over last year.

Clothing and accessories were the largest spending category at $7.6 billion, but the electronics category should see the biggest increase in sales from last year.

Natrona County schools begin fall classes on Monday.

Angie McCann, general manager of the Eastridge Mall in Casper, said back-to-school sales have been solid.

"This week, it's crazy up here with all the last minute shoppers," she said.

"We're definitely having a strong back-to-school season up here."

In line with national patterns, clothing has been a hot seller at the mall. "The styles change, but it's still new clothes and new shoes for back to school," McCann said.

More generally, McCann said Eastridge Mall's sales are up 10 percent over last year, which she attributed to the robust local economy.

Retail industry analysts say back-to-school sales often foreshadow performance during the critical Christmas holiday period.

"I think we're going to have a great holiday season once Bed, Bath and Beyond gets open. I think that will be another draw for us that will really help," McCann said.

Construction has already begun on the exterior facade at the mall where the linens-and-towels giant will set up shop.

Electronics, in particular computers, increasingly are viewed as essential learning gear, and consumers were expected to spend 13 percent more on such back-to-school purchases than last year.

Discounters remained most the popular back-to-school shopping destinations, according to the National Retail Federation Survey, but Internet sales also continued to increase. The survey found 21.4 percent of parents said they planned to buy merchandise online this year, up from 15.2 percent last year.

Many stores ran back-to-school promotions. Office products giant Staples, for example, conducted a teacher appreciation event, noting that teachers spend an average of $475 of their own money on classroom supplies.

The first 200 teachers through the door of a Staples store received a polybinder that included such materials as paper clips, highlighters and index flags.

Business Editor Tom Mast can be reached at tom.mast@casperstartribune.net, or call 307-266-0574.