As American students return to classrooms, families face unprecedented price surges for school essentials—from crayons to laptops—as tariffs reshape consumer spending. Analysts attribute the spike to trade policies that have effectively imposed what parents call a 'hidden school tax,' with imported supplies now costing up to 145% more in some categories.
New data reveals a 7.3% average increase in back-to-school shopping baskets this year, nearly triple the national inflation rate. Items like index cards (+42.6%) and notebooks (+17.1%) saw the sharpest jumps, while electronics faced particularly severe impacts. A Michigan school district halted 25% of its tech upgrades after laptop prices doubled to $1,200 per device.
"Moving manufacturing elsewhere isn't practical," said Crayola CEO Pete Ruggiero, whose Brazil-based colored pencil production now faces 50% tariffs. The squeeze extends beyond supplies: lunchbox staples like juice boxes and fruits rose 22%, while new education funding cuts threaten long-term access to higher education.
President Trump acknowledged tariff-driven price hikes in a May interview, suggesting families buy fewer items. However, analysts warn the policies risk widening educational disparities, with federal loan reforms potentially pricing out lower-income students from medical and law schools charging up to $80,000 annually.
As schools grapple with budget constraints and families adjust spending habits, the ripple effects of trade policies continue to reshape America's education landscape—with implications for global supply chains and Asian manufacturing hubs.
