Back to School

The best route to a secure job still runs through the classroom, and droves of middle-aged Americans are following it. The proof is in the lending: The fastest growth in the student loan business is among people in their 40s. But are they making a good investment, or a bad bet?

Even before Hurricane Irene interrupted back-to-school shopping, the nation was cautious about spending for the new semester. A teetering economy is affecting the purchasing choices of 75% of families with school-age children, and 70% say they plan to spend the same or less as last year.

The back-to-school countdown is nearing its end, but there's still time for parents to find good deals. Here are four tips on how you can save money while helping your child get ready to hit the books.

As the new school year approaches, families head to the shops for new supplies. But the back-to-school shopping season can be hard on the wallet. Follow these money-saving tips from moms across the country and you'll have plenty of cash left for apples for the teacher.

Students are heading back to school, and that means they need supplies that cost money. As the economy remains uncertain, with many out of work, nonprofits are stepping up school-supply drives to help more families with this expense.

The backpack is the key piece of gear as your kids return to school this fall. What they want is something cool that holds everything; what you want is something durable that's within your budget. The good news: Both of you can get what you want.

Retailers forecast that 2011 will be a year spent dealing with inflation, expanding stores and trying to wean shoppers off their markdown habit. Faced with rising costs that are pushing their prices higher, merchants say they have to focus on growing sales, regardless of the economic pressures.

U.S. consumers put shopping on hold in October following the back-to-school season. MasterCard Advisors' SpendingPulse, a data service, showed year-on-year declines in spending on items including flat-panel TVs and major appliances, The Associated Press reported. The lull may continue until the...

The retail recovery may be slowly getting back on track, with major store chains expected to post a mild uptick in September sales numbers. Investors will be watching closely for signs of what to expect for the holiday season.

Forget back-to-school shopping. While last year's lunchboxes and backpacks likely can stretch into another season, soccer shoes tend to last just the one. And so we dutifully made the annual pilgrimage to the Big Three of soccer supplies: Big Five, Sports Authority and Sports Chalet. What did we...