As schools reopen for the new year, parents are bracing themselves for the annual struggle of buying back-to-school supplies. With inflation ticking up and tariffs adding pressure, the task has become increasingly daunting.
Parents cite finding all requested items as a challenge, while also dealing with rising costs. A recent consumer survey by KPMG found that over half of shoppers plan to buy less overall due to tariffs. The average parent is expected to spend $144 on basic supplies like notebooks and pens, although this number can balloon to $858 when including other necessities.
Special-education teacher Chris Vehlow from Illinois notes, “If you don’t have kids in school, you have no idea how expensive school supplies are.” With schools recommending a wide range of supplies, parents must navigate the often frustrating process.
Source: https://www.nytimes.com/2025/08/01/your-money/back-to-school-supplies-parents.html