Are tariffs impacting back-to-school shopping?
A National Retail Federation survey finds more back-to-school shoppers are starting early this year, and tariff concerns are a big part of that trend.
A National Retail Federation survey finds more back-to-school shoppers are starting early this year, and tariff concerns are a big part of that trend.
A National Retail Federation survey finds more back-to-school shoppers are starting early this year, and tariff concerns are a big part of that trend.
More families are starting their back-to-school shopping early, and tariff concerns are playing a big role in that trend, according to a
The survey found, as of early July, two-thirds of back-to-school shoppers had already begun purchasing items, the highest rate of early shopping ever recorded by the NRF. About half of families specifically cited concerns that tariffs will increase prices as a reason for shopping sooner than last year.
Some of the steepest tariffs proposed by President Donald Trump aren't set to take effect until August 1, but others are already in place, including a 30% tax on Chinese products.
According to the Observatory of Economic Complexity, China is the world's top exporter of school supplies. It's also a big supplier of clothes and computers.
New data from the Labor Department shows inflation rose last month to its highest level since February. Some economists say that's an early sign that tariffs are starting to have an effect on prices.
A closer look at key back-to-school items shows increased slightly for clothing, footwear, and computers between May 2025 and June 2025, while prices for educational books and supplies dipped.
One factor could be that major retailers are offering deals to lure bargain hunters. it's maintaining its 2024 prices on key back-to-school items. its stores are offering 14 of the most popular supplies at prices lower than last year.
That's welcome news, as NRF finds families with students in elementary through high school are tightening their budgets, planning to spend an average of $858.07 on clothing, shoes, school supplies and electronics. That's down from $874.68 in 2024.
found parents plan to spend $200 more than last year's average. The survey, conducted online by The Harris Poll, found parents of K-12 or college students estimate they’ll spend $741.
It also found some parents are changing how they shop due to tariff concerns, including turning to different brands (39%) and retailers (35%). Others report cutting back on back-to-school clothing (27%) and supplies (25%) this year.
Here are a few tips for families looking to save:
- Make a list and stick to it to avoid overspending.
- Look for sales and ask for a price match if you know of a lower offer elsewhere.
- Talk to schools and religious organizations about supply drives.
- Check if your state has a tax holiday during the back-to-school shopping season.
