According to a consumer survey by Port Washington, New York-based market research firm NPD Group, this back-to-school shopping season will be better than last year, which was awful, but the buying will happen just ahead of the first homeroom bell not in the middle of August.  In this year’s survey, 38 percent of the respondents said they plan to spend less on back-to-school supplies and clothes a six-point drop from the 44% of consumers planning a pull-back at this time last year.  “Also, 55 percent said they planned to shop in more stores this year, compared with 53 percent last year.”  Newsday (NY) Aug. 9, 2010