Back-to-school used to mean last-minute runs for binders and sneakers. In 2025, it’s a full-on economic event.
Families are shopping earlier than ever, spending billions while trying to outmaneuver tariffs and inflation.
The result: back-to-school season has become a stress test for wallets and a preview of America’s bigger economic anxieties.
Families Hit the Aisles Early
67% of back-to-school shoppers started by early July — the earliest rush on record. That’s not enthusiasm, it’s fear of prices climbing higher.
Tariffs Drive the Clock
51% of parents admit they’re shopping early to dodge tariffs. It’s a scramble to beat the White House’s trade war at the checkout line.
K-12 Spending Tightens
Average spending per family slipped to $858.07, down from last year. But multiply it nationwide and you still get a staggering $39.4 billion.
College Students Break Records
Families with kids headed to campus plan to spend $1,325.85 each — adding up to nearly $89 billion in total college-year costs.
Tech Eats the Budget
Laptops, tablets, and AI-ready tools are the fastest-growing line items. The new pencil case isn’t leather — it’s digital.
Supplies Cost More, Give Less
Prices on basics have surged 30% in five years. A box of pencils today costs what a backpack did in 2020.
Inflation’s Shadow
Even with “stable” inflation, families aren’t feeling relief. Shopping early is less about deals, more about survival planning.
Retailers Chase Loyalty
Chains are dangling bundles, discounts, and credit offers to lock in early spenders. The fight for shrinking wallets is cutthroat.
Debt Is Creeping In
More parents report putting back-to-school expenses on credit cards — a warning sign as household debt keeps climbing.
The Big Picture
Back-to-school 2025 isn’t about excitement — it’s about endurance. Shoppers are adapting, retailers are scrambling, and the classroom economy is already under stress before the first bell rings.
