Demand for coveted student items boosting US back-to-school spending

Bengaluru

ALONG with the perennial run on leggings, students returning to America's classrooms this year are making a beeline for retro sneakers, "cold-shoulder" tops, versatile laptops and USB drives.

Demand for those hot-ticket items is helping to push back-to-school spending to its fastest growth in four years, a boon for retailers in their second most important season.

Outdone only by the post-Thanksgiving holiday bonanza, back-to-school shopping for clothing, shoes, electronic…