Back-to-School Costs Surge 8.4% as Apparel and Tech Equipment Strain U.S. Household Budgets

WASHINGTON, DC — The National Retail Federation (NRF) released its final 2026 Back-to-School Consumer Index on Saturday, reporting that the average American household with school-aged children will spend an all-time high of $895.40 on required classroom supplies, clothing, and digital computing devices.

Inflationary Pressures on Basic School Goods

Total nationwide back-to-school expenditures are projected to reach $39.2 billion. Families reported sharp price increases in mandatory electronic tablets (up 11.2%), branded footwear (up 9.4%), and specialty paper products (up 7.8%).

"Even as headline inflation moderates, cumulative price increases over the last four years leave parents with little discretionary margin," stated NRF Vice President Katherine Cullen. "Over 42 percent of families report cutting back on summer travel or utilizing Buy-Now-Pay-Later micro-loans to purchase required supplies."

State Sales Tax Holiday Impact

State legislators in sixteen states activated temporary sales tax holidays this weekend to provide partial relief on school clothing and supplies under $100, though consumer economists noted permanent child tax credits offer more sustained household stability.