As students across the U.S. prepare for a new academic year, families are seeing sticker shock from supplies to cafeteria lunches. Tariffs on imports from the Chinese mainland and elsewhere have added what some call a 'school tax'.
In Miami, one parent stocked up on crayons, disinfectant wipes and pencils in June to beat early price hikes. Retail analysts note more families are shopping months ahead, afraid that higher levies will push costs even further.
Data from Groundwork Collaborative and the Century Foundation show the typical back-to-school kit jumped 7.3% this year – nearly triple the overall inflation rate. Standout price increases include:
- Index cards: +42.6%
- Notebooks: +17.1%
- Binders: +12.8%
- Folders: +12.7%
Much of the market for backpacks, stationery and electronics relies on imports from the Chinese mainland. After recent trade deals, these goods face a 30% levy, leading computer and tablet prices to climb more than 30% and forcing some school districts to delay tech upgrades.
Food costs are up too. Families will spend an extra $163 on lunchbox items this year, with juice boxes, grapes and strawberries up 22% on average. Banana tariffs introduced in August added another 8% rise.
Even loan policies and federal aid have shifted. The new borrowing cap for graduate students and cuts to meal subsidies mean many lower-income students could be priced out or pushed toward higher-interest private loans, widening the access gap.
Meanwhile, international student enrollment has dropped 13%, adding pressure on U.S. universities already feeling the financial strain. As costs rise from crayons to college, families are recalibrating budgets and adjusting expectations.
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From crayons to laptops, tariffs push U.S. school expenses higher
cgtn.com
