By Katie Kelton, CCC, Bankrate.com
When it comes to shopping back-to-school, some of us may think of new backpacks and the smell of new pencils. But Bankrate’s 2025 Back-to-school Shopping survey shows that others may just see dollar signs.
The stubborn inflation continues to change how almost 1 in 3 back-to-school shoppers (30%) shopping, but that percentage has fallen in recent years, which may indicate that Americans have become more used to paying higher prices.
Ronda Sunderhaus, Bankrate Senior Account Manager in Charlotte, North Carolina, has long back-to-school shopping lists for her three children. In addition to school supplies, they buy various new outfits, backpacks and lunch boxes – “they never seem to last when you pack lunch every day of the week,” she says.
That is why her family is looking for deals and compares prices together.
“I involve (my children) in price comparison and decision -making when it comes to clothing, shoes and backpacks,” she says.
A category on which they can skimp is electronics. “Because my children are younger, the only ‘technology’ needs they have generally have headphones,” she explains. “I usually choose a cheap pair, because children are susceptible to losing or breaking things and being replaced annually.”
Almost half of the shoppers (49%) are planning to hire money -saving strategies this fall, from finding cheaper brands to budgeting to less buying.
“The cumulative effects of higher prices and high interest rates still weigh on many households,” says Ted Rossman, Senior Industry Analyst of Bankrate. “Tarif problems also have a significant influence on the consumer transliment.”
Bankrate’s most important insights into back-to-school shopping
- Today’s prices have almost 1 in 3 back-to-school shoppers reconsider how they shop. Thirty percent of the shoppers say they change how they shop because of inflation. That is a decrease of 41% in 2022 and 32% in 2024, which may indicate that Americans adapt to higher price tags.
- Compared to 2022, a smaller percentage of back-to-school shoppers feels financially tense for the coming school year. Twenty percent of the shoppers (decrease of 31% in 2022) say they will feel pressure on their budget, and another 11% (decrease of 26% in 2022) feel under pressure to spend more than they are comfortable.
- Half of back-to-school shoppers use money-saving strategies this season. Forty-nine percent of the shoppers intend to buy action-buyer brands, search for deals, budget or buy fewer supplies for the coming school year.
Inflation continues to bully back-to-school shoppers, but less than in recent years
Almost 1 in 3 back-to-school shoppers (30%) says that inflation changes how they shop. That is a decrease of 32% in 2024 and 41% in 2022, during peak inflation.
Inflation is currently at 2.4%Well under 9% peak in June 2022, but the prices are still 23.7% higher than before the pandemic. Our polling, however, shows that this is less a problem for shoppers. Although the Bureau of Labor Statistics does not specifically follow the price of school supplies, this year (from May 2025) versus last year we can look at the prices of some similar categories.
Steering items, stationery supplies and gift brakes are 4.7% more expensive than last year.
Boys clothing is 2.1% more expensive, but girls’ clothing is 1.3% cheaper.
Computers, peripherals and smart home assistance are 3.5% cheaper. But computer software and accessories are 6.1% more expensive.
Educational books and supplies are 9.4% more expensive.
One in 5 shoppers (20%) says that these costs will or will tax their budgets, which falls from 31% in 2022. And about 1 in 10 shoppers (11%) feel pressure to spend more than they are at ease, which is a decrease of 26% in 2022.
- More Millennials and Gen Zers are back-to-school shopping than older generations in general, more than 1 in 3 American adults (36%) are back-to-school shopping this year or for a child. That includes almost half of the millennials (age 29-44; 49%) and gene Zers (age 18-28; 44%). Only 1 in 3 gene xers (age 45-60; 33%) and about 1 in 5 boomers (age 61-79; 21%) are back-to-school shopping.
- Most back-to-school shoppers will not accept any debts this season that is planning six percent of the shoppers to assume debts for back-to-school shopping this year. “We are not worried about the start of school debt, but we know that many families do,” says Sunderhaus.
Almost half of the Americans (46%) have a credit card debt, according to Bankrate’s 2025 Credit card Schulge report. But almost half of those debtors (45%) say that it is because of emergency spending, such as car repairing or medical accounts. Armed with a budget and money-saving strategies, it is possible to prevent debts to prevent this back-to-school season.
Almost half of the shoppers are planning to use money -saving methods
Alene Laney, a writer of personal finances in Provo, Utah and Mom of Five, find creative ways to save on back-to-school shopping. Their local public schools offer stocks, but her family is still on the hook for new school clothing, technology, backpacks, and so on.
“I try to keep the costs as low as possible, and the extra costs come from a monthly budget category for essential house items,” says Laney.
She belongs to almost half of back-to-school shoppers (49%) that use one or more of these money-saving strategies in 2025.
1 in 5 will buy cheaper brands
Twenty percent of the back-to-school shoppers say they have bought or buy cheaper brands than normal, at 35% in 2022.
Try to opt for generic versions of your children’s favorite brands or compare prices between stores to shorten your budget. “I buy cheaper brands for the things that don’t matter (paper, binders, scissors),” says Sunderhaus. “I also have a price of comparing between deals in the store (target, walmart) and Amazon online. I usually think that markers, exhibition markers and ironically enough glue sticks in bulk and then divided among my children, are cheaper via Amazon.”
1 in 5 will look for deals
Twenty percent also or is planning to find more deals and coupons than in the past. But that is a decrease of 47% in 2022.
With five children it is important for Laney and her children to buy things that go without breaking the bank. “I’m not going for the cheapest brands – I try to get the highest quality for the lowest price,” she explains. “Before that I am a big costco fan. I also shop all discount stores such as TJ Maxx, Ross, Marshall’s and Burlington Coat Factory.”
Almost 1 in 5 will budgets for back-to-school
Eighteen percent already did or intend to put money aside and/or budget for back-to-school shopping, which falls from 33% in 2022.
Budgeting prevents Buy impulseWhat a weakness is for many Americans. And it helps you to identify other categories where you might spend less this season, so there is enough money to go around. You can also start shopping for groceries a few months in advance.
About 1 in 6 will buy fewer school supplies
Sixteen percent buy fewer school supplies than in previous years due to the costs, compared to 36% in 2022.
“Consider asking your child’s teacher what is essential on the first day versus what can wait until later in the year,” says Rossman. Your children may not need everything on the list. They may also be able to use the backpack, folders, pens and pencils from last year and more.
5 ways to save this back-to-school season
As soon as summer camps are over and schools start to send e-mails again, there are a few lessons here to help you pay affordable for back-to-school.
- Set a budget. With a monthly budget that fluctuates per season, you can plan ahead for back-to-school expenses by getting money from other daily categories. For example, if you are $ 500 budget for school supplies, you may be able to cut $ 200 from the eating budget of your family, $ 200 from entertainment and another $ 100 by skipping expensive snacks and purchasing that month only bulk.
- Make a shopping list. With a list in hand – which you actually keep – you are not sucked more to buy more than you need or what your children throw in the shopping cart. Base the list on your budget and recommendations from the school, but also look for ways to reuse stocks from last year.
- Stack of discounts. Try “combining a reward credit card with store promotions, online store portals and/or map-linked offers”, Rossman advises. Those small savings can rise for a large shopping list.
- Include your children in the process. Back-to-school shopping is a way to teach your children about budgeting and at the same time bickering about what to buy. “I make my basic children responsible for holding their list in the store and rejecting what we have when we go,” says Sunderhaus. “We also talk about the brands and prices of the articles they choose.” When her 6-year-old wanted a pencil box with a video game theme, he chose to compromise for a more affordable lunch box.
- Shop used. Thrifting clothing and supplies can help you get lower prices if possible and at the same time help the environment. Laney and her children often shop second -hand and reclaim items. “I am always surprised about the high quality of clothing that I can get second,” she says. “We are happy to wear hand-me-downs or garden sales treasures.”
Methodology: Bankrate has commissioned Yougov PLC to conduct the survey. All figures, unless stated otherwise, are from Yougov PLC. The total sample was 2,616 adults, of which 914 have or will have back-to-school shopping this year. Fieldwork was carried out between 2-4 June 2025. The survey was carried out online. The figures are weighed and are representative of all American adults (18 years old).
© 2025 Bankrate.com. Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC.
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