Aug 04, 2016 04:00 AM EDT By Staff Reporter, UniversityHerald Reporter

Back-to-school shopping trends this 2016 revealed that consumers are planning to buy tech products. This is good news for tech companies as they roll out new devices this season.

According to Twice, research conducted by the Consumer Technology Association (CTA) revealed that 59 percent of American consumers plan to buy a tech product for their back-to-school shopping. The figure showed an increase of 12 percentage points over last year.

It was estimated that a total of $18.5 billion will be spent this year on back-to-school tech products or accessories. This is a 6.2 percent increase compared to last year.

"Early back-to-school promotions are building interest and momentum for the second-largest shopping event of the year," Steve Koenig, CTA's market research senior director, said. "Deals on the tech items for back-to-school including 2-in-1 laptops, Bluetooth speakers, headphones, tablets and more are creating excitement among consumers. This consumer enthusiasm also bodes well for tech sales across the second-half of the year."

The top back-to-school tech product is a portable memory, with 71 percent of respondents confirming that they plan to buy one. CNET made a list on the best portable drives of 2016 which included the SanDisk Extreme 900 Portable SSD, Samsung Portable SSD T3 and WD My Passport Ultra (spring 2015).

Next on the list was the basic calculator, with 55 percent. Headphones come in third with 52 percent of respondents saying that they want to buy new headphones. Find the perfect pair on Amazon and Best Buy.

51 percent of the research participants admitted that they are planning to buy a scientific/graphing calculator. 48 percent said that they plan to buy a protective case. Laptops, computer software, external hard drives, tablets and product subscriptions finish the list.

The San Diego Union-Tribune noted how technology is continuing to become more mobile. "You could send a kid off to college these day with a backpack, a laptop and a smartphone," Jim Barry, a spokesman for the Consumer Technology Association, said in an interview.

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