Back-to-school shopping is expected to hit a record high this year, but parents don't have to pay top dollar for everything on their list.

The National Retail Federation projects back-to-school spending will top $43 billion this year, with families spending an average of about $864 on K-12 supplies.

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The biggest price increases are expected in clothing, shoes and electronics, driven by higher import tariffs, manufacturing costs and shipping expenses.

The good news? Many of the basics are staying affordable.

Retailers are using school supplies as "loss leaders,” deeply discounting popular items to get shoppers through the door. Walmart, for example, says it's offering 15 back-to-school essentials at their lowest prices since 2019.

"We made a choice that we're going to try to help the consumer save money," said Walmart Store Manager Frankie Burford. "We're trying to help them have a successful back-to-school season and get the kids and college students what they need."

Burford pointed to several steep discounts, including composition notebooks marked down to 38 cents from 97 cents last year, Crayola crayons for 50 cents a box and notebook paper for 50 cents, compared with 79 cents a year ago.

Those prices are resonating with shoppers.

"I feel like things have been pretty affordable," said Whitney Del Rosario, who was shopping for her three children. "I don't have any issues."

Consumer savings expert Trey Bodge says shoppers should expect to find aggressive promotions at major retailers throughout the season.

"Thankfully, I am seeing a lot of sales, especially from those bigger box retailers. We will see some relief there," Bodge said.

Price comparison: Which retailer came out cheapest?

To see where families can save the most, WRAL 5 On Your Side compared the sale prices of the same five school supplies at Walmart, Target, Dollar Tree and Amazon:

  • Dollar Tree: $9.75*
    • Walmart: $10.79
      • Target: $21.67
        • Amazon: $22.22*

          *Dollar Tree's total is not a direct comparison because the Expo marker was sold individually instead of in a four-pack. Amazon's total includes multipacks, including a two-pack of crayons and a six-pack of notebooks.

          Compared with WRAL's previous price check:

          • Walmart's total fell from $13.10 to $10.79
            • Dollar Tree dropped from $10.73 to $9.75
              • Amazon dipped slightly from $23.14 to $22.22
                • Target increased sharply from $11.06 to $21.67, largely because of the cost of its least expensive backpack.

                  Del Rosario says backpacks remain one of the biggest expenses.

                  "Kids want a certain type of bag nowadays, and I've seen bags for $80," she said.

                  Tips to save even more

                  If you're shopping for higher-priced items such as laptops, tablets or smartphones, consumer experts recommend:

                  • Waiting for Labor Day sales.
                    • Buying refurbished devices from reputable retailers.
                      • Taking advantage ofstudent discounts offered by many major brands.

                        Those strategies can lead to much bigger savings than buying electronics during the peak back-to-school shopping rush.