Back-to-School Squeeze Parents

Parents and teachers are grappling with rising prices for school supplies as they prepare for the upcoming school year. A survey by Deloitte suggests that spending on school supplies is expected to decrease by 10% compared to last year, marking the first decline since 2014. The survey also indicates that inflation is a significant factor influencing parents' shopping decisions. Prices for school supplies have risen by nearly 24% in the past two years, causing many shoppers to prioritize essential items like folders and pencils over new clothes or tech products. Some parents will splurge on certain items like apparel and technology, others are actively seeking ways to stretch their budgets, such as shopping at secondhand stores and utilizing teacher discounts.