From calculators to footwear: the back-to-school essentials that cost more in 2025

Back-to-school shoppers might encounter higher prices this year on everything from clothing to technology.

Economists say the Trump administration’s imposition of tariffs on nearly all imports is driving up costs, as retailers sell through inventory brought in before the tariffs took effect. In anticipation of the price hikes, the National Retail Federation reported in July that more than two-thirds of households began back-to-school shopping early.

“The early start is up from 55% last year and is the highest since NRF began tracking early shopping in 2018,” the organization said, noting that many families told surveyors the tariffs specifically motivated them to get their shopping done ahead of time.

Price increases tracked so far in the back-to-school market

In just a few weeks, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will release the Consumer Price Index report for August, offering key insights into which products saw price increases as students and teachers returned to the classroom.

However, NBC News has already been tracking price changes on back-to-school items and has observed notable increases. Since early March, the price of notebooks has risen—particularly those made by Moleskine, a luxury brand, which saw a 22 percent price jump on Amazon. While Moleskine is on the higher end, NBC cites analysis from Bright Data showing that prices for journals and notebooks across various price points have nearly doubled.

A CNN analysis found a similar trend in the apparel market, reporting that shoes, bags, and belts have seen a price increase of around 9 percent since July 2024. However, the Consumer Price Index (CPI) data from July tells a more nuanced story: clothing for boys rose nearly 2 percent over the past year, while prices for girls’ clothing declined.

Musical instruments have also seen a 3.4 percent price increase year-over-year, which may be partly related to tariffs. This could lead some parents to delay purchases for their student musicians this school year.

Still, the full impact of tariffs on consumer prices won’t be clear for a few more months, until official data is released.

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