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Retailers of appliances, electronics and computers increased average sales from $38.25 in 2006 to more than $60 this year. Singing the blues this Labor Day included home furnishings and accessory retailers.

The latest Consumer Mind Reader survey for August 2007 conducted by America's Research Group (ARG) showed that discount and major department stores saw increases in both the number of shoppers frequenting their stores and in average purchases. Retailers of computers and electronics, apparel and books enjoyed similar success. Membership warehouse clubs and online shopping also cashed in on the back-to-school sales bonanza.

For the survey ARG interviewed 1,000 consumers across the country about their buying habits for the past month. The survey was conducted by telephone from September 6 to September 9, 2007.

Some of the more dramatic findings in the survey:

More than nine in 10 major shopping decision makers made at least one trip to a discount store last month, up a full 11 points from the same period last year. Meanwhile their average shopping levels jumped by more than $30 per visit.

Retailers of appliances, electronics and computers increased average sales from $38.25 in 2006 to more than $60 this year.

This back-to-school season was a huge success for retailers with a presence on the Internet. The number of online shoppers jumped by more than six points over 2006 figures while their average purchases soared from $37.77 in 2006 to $58.36 last month.

It appears that the good fortune of online retailers may have come at the expense of mail order catalogs, which have been on the decline for some time. Only 6.5 percent of shoppers made purchases through catalogs, down more than two points since last year. Expenditures also dwindled, from $11.92 in September of 2006 to $8.03 this year. Catalogs have not enjoyed double digit average purchases since last Christmas.

Also singing the blues this Labor Day were retailers of bed and bath products, garage sales and flea markets and toy stores. Home furnishings and accessory retailers were especially hard hit, seeing significant declines in both store traffic and shopping levels. Factory outlet stores and those in outlet malls suffered similar misfortune.

The back-to-school shopping season is not only one of the busiest selling periods of the year but also the gateway to the all-important fourth quarter, the make or break time for many retailers in America. Clearly some got a huge boost from the end of summer sales volume, while others have substantial ground to make up between now and the Christmas season. They will have to look to offering deep discounts on popular products to lure shoppers back to their stores.