According to a recent study released by the National Retail Federation (NRF), families spent more on back to school items this year than in 2009. The organization predicts that Americans will spend approximately $55.12 billion on school merchandise before the year is over.

The study surveyed 8,201 consumers between August 3 and 10. Such retail surveys are conducted monthly by the NRF in order to understand current market trends.

"As the summer winds down, budget wise families will scope out weekly circulars, sales racks and even comparison shop online. to find the best back to school deals," said Pam Goodfellow, senior analyst at BIGresearch.

According to the survey, families using the web to find online school supplies rose from 12.2 percent last year to 16 percent this year. Around 17 percent of families with school aged children said that 100 percent of their purchases were influenced by bargains and coupons.

Families who want to save money .may benefit from using the web to find great deals. However, it's important to use a secure payment service when purchasing online, as there are approximately 9 million cases of identity theft in the U.S. every year, according to the Federal Trade Commission.