| FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE August 21, 2025 Contact: [email protected] ICYMI: Tariffs Drive Up Back-to-School Costs, Families Brace for $900 Price Tag Back-to-school season has become another reminder of how the Trump Administration’s across-the-board tariffs are draining family budgets. Parents are bracing for nearly $900 in costs per household this school year, when high grocery and electricity costs are already challenging families. A new analysis finds that the cost of a typical basket of school supplies has jumped 7.3% since last year, nearly triple the pace of overall inflation. This year’s increases extend across nearly every category of classroom essentials. Costs for one subject notebooks (+17%) and binders (+12%) are climbing, while educational books and supplies (+8%) are also higher than a year ago. Parents say the rising prices are forcing changes in spending habits: a Credit Karma survey found that 34% of parents plan to take on debt to cover back-to-school costs, with one in six expecting to borrow up to $1000. Nearly one-third say they cannot afford back-to-school shopping at all this year, and half report they’ll sacrifice essentials like groceries and bills to make sure their kids are prepared.  A survey from the National Retail Federation notes that many families shopped earlier than ever this year, with over 60% starting their back-to-school purchases before August in an effort to avoid tariff-driven price hikes. Families’ budgets are stretched – and Trump’s tariffs are making the exciting back to school season more stressful, and more expensive for families. Credit Karma | Half of parents will sacrifice necessities to pay for back-to-school expenses, study finds NRF | Back-to-School Season Begins Early for Majority of Shoppers Michigan Independent | Michigan families face higher school supply costs as Trump’s tariffs drive up prices WUSA9 | Families get a jump start on back-to-school shopping amid tariffs and price hikes ABC11 | Parents brace for potential tariff impacts on school supplies, back-to-school shopping Big Rapids News | Michigan families face rising back-to-school costs as tariffs drive up prices Pennsylvania Independent | Trump tariffs may be starting to have impact on back-to-school shopping, data shows WZZM13 | Tariff hikes hit back-to-school shoppers hard ThumbWind | Tariffs on School Supplies: Governor Whitmer Slams Price Surge Before School Starts USA Today | Tariffs have worried parents starting back-to-school shopping early CNBC | Trump tariffs, inflation have some parents worried about back-to-school shopping costs The Virginia Independent | Fredericksburg school supply shop closing in wake of Trump’s tariffs WIBW | Back to school shopping costing consumers more as tariffs drive up clothing prices Axios | Tariffs and tight budgets reshape back-to-school shopping ### Tariffs Cost US is a new campaign dedicated to providing the public with reliable, comprehensive information about global trade and tariffs, and their impact on both businesses and consumers. |
