Trump's Tariffs Are About to Make Back-To-School Season Painful— Families Could Spend Nearly $4,000 Per Child, Report Finds

U.S. families will pay more for back-to-school shopping this year, with the cost of school supplies rising nearly 8% and packed lunches climbing almost 11%, according to a report released earlier this week by Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation.

The groups estimate families will spend nearly $4,000 per child during the 2026-27 school year, including about $175 on school supplies and roughly $3,800 on packed lunches.

The report found the price of a typical basket of school supplies increased 7.7% from last year, while the cost of a typical school lunch basket rose 10.9%. Among the biggest price increases were lunch boxes, notebooks, index cards, sandwich bread, apple juice and blueberries.

“It’s the second-biggest shopping event of the year after Christmas, and families are going to be facing a lot of pain this school year,” Lindsay Owens, executive director of Groundwork Collaborative, told CBS News. Owens said higher fuel prices have filtered into food and clothing costs, while tariffs have had an outsized impact because many school supplies are imported.

Tariffs push prices higher

Higher tariffs on imported goods under President Donald Trump and rising energy costs have increased the price of many classroom essentials. It noted that products such as notebooks, markers and glue are largely manufactured overseas, making them more vulnerable to higher import duties.

Several companies have echoed those pressures. Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) , which makes Sharpie, Paper Mate and Elmer’s products, said tariffs prompted multiple price increases after adding high costs. Logitech International SA (NASDAQ:LOGI) told investors it implemented “a sizable price increase” in the U.S. because of tariffs, while ACCO Brands Corporation (NYSE:ACCO), the parent company of Mead, Five Star and Trapper Keeper, said higher oil prices linked to the Middle East conflict had increased costs and led to price hikes.

Financial strain continues

The findings add to broader signs of financial pressure on U.S. households. An Urban Institute study released earlier this month found more Americans were relying on credit cards, buy now, pay later loans and personal savings to pay for groceries, with food prices up 32% over the past five years. The study also found many lower-income households were increasingly struggling to keep up with debt payments.

The report also comes as economists continue to debate the drivers of elevated consumer prices. Earlier this month, Moody’s Analytics Chief Economist Mark Zandi said tariffs, restrictive immigration policies and higher energy costs have kept inflation above the Federal Reserve’s target, arguing that many of the current inflation pressures reflect policy decisions.

Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by a Benzinga editor.

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