As students head back to class this fall, families are feeling the pinch like never before 🎒💸. From crayons to laptops, sweeping tariff hikes on imports from the Chinese mainland and beyond are driving up the price tags on everything a kid needs to hit the books.
In Miami, one mom started her shopping spree in June—grabbing 15 boxes of Crayola crayons, Lysol wipes, and Ticonderoga pencils—to dodge sticker shock later. Retail analysts say more parents are loading up early, hunting for discounts and bracing for tariffs that have climbed as high as 30% on goods from the Chinese mainland.
According to a joint report by Groundwork Collaborative and the Century Foundation, back-to-school kits are now 7.3% more expensive—almost triple the overall inflation rate. Top price jumps include:
- Index cards: +42.6% 📈
- Notebooks: +17.1%
- Binders: +12.8%
- Folders: +12.7%
Lunch boxes and snacks aren’t immune. Families are shelling out an extra $163 on average for school lunches, with juice boxes, grapes, and strawberries up 22% since last year. A recent 15% tariff on bananas adds another layer of cost at the cafeteria table.
Electronics take the biggest hit: a Michigan district saw laptop prices nearly double from $650 to $1,200. Tablets and computers are expected to climb more than 30% thanks to tariff duties.
Even clothing and shoes have felt the squeeze. With 20% or higher levies on imports from the Chinese mainland, Vietnam, and Cambodia, gear for kids to look and feel good at school is more expensive than ever.
On top of rising supply costs, education expenses are scaling up. The One Big Beautiful Bill Act reduced federal aid, capping graduate borrowing at $20,500 a year and cutting one loan program entirely. Many students report serious concerns about tuition and loan limits.
Meanwhile, international enrollment has dipped by 13%, and 72% of Americans say college feels pricier than a generation ago. For many families, juggling extra costs means creative budgeting, early shopping trips, and, in some cases, stiff trade-offs.
As the school year kicks off, parents, students, and educators are finding ways to adapt—hunting deals, rethinking shopping lists, and making every dollar stretch further. One thing’s clear: back-to-school season just got a lot tougher on the wallet 😅.
Reference(s):
From crayons to laptops, tariffs push U.S. school expenses higher
cgtn.com
