Back-to-school costs are rising for families as the price of common school supplies and lunch essentials increases. According to an analysis of the 21 most common school supply items by the Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation, prices for these items have risen approximately 7.7 percent, with parents paying an average of $173.45 for their school supply haul.
The cost of school lunch essentials has also seen an 11 percent hike. When combining supplies and meals, costs can reach nearly $4,000 a year. Specific price increases include a 27 percent rise for lunch boxes, a 22 percent increase for sandwich bread, and a 48 percent jump for blueberries.
Other significant price hikes include a 20 percent increase for notebooks, paper, tissues, and index cards, and a 14 percent rise for scissors and chocolate chip cookies. Dry erase markers and glue sticks have increased by 8 percent, while items such as headphones, binders, crayons, and pencils have seen increases between 5 and 7 percent.
Lindsay Owens, the president and CEO of the Groundwork Collaborative, stated that school supply costs are outpacing inflation, which may cause sticker shock for many families, particularly women who manage most household purchases. Owens noted that the task of providing for families is becoming more difficult.
Several factors are driving these price increases. Tariffs on steel and aluminum have increased the cost of harvesting equipment, and tariffs on imported goods affect items like blueberries, which are often imported from Peru. Additionally, the war in Iran has raised fuel and shipping costs, impacting imports and passing costs to consumers.
Lindsay Owens noted that gas prices filter through to food and consumer goods because higher diesel costs increase the cost of transporting food and farming. The cost of plastic packaging for items like pencils or deli ham also contributes to higher prices.
Julie Margetta Morgan, president of the Century Foundation, stated that parents face a strong actual and emotional cost when making difficult choices to care for their families amidst these rising costs.
Financial strain is impacting a significant portion of parents. A survey by Intuit Credit Karma found that about half of parents expect to take on debt to cover back-to-school shopping this year, an increase from 34 percent in 2024.
Ailen Arreaza, executive director of ParentsTogether, stated that about 70 percent of parents in their organization's surveys cite experiencing financial strain. This is compounded by the loss of government benefits, such as SNAP, which has affected millions of Americans, including 1.5 million children.
