Back-to-School Prices Are Up — But 8 States Have Tax-Free Shopping This Weekend

Pull up a chair. If you have kids heading back to school this fall, or grandkids, or nieces and nephews, or students in your community — this one is for you. School supply prices have climbed again, and this year the sticker shock is real. But here's the good news: right now, today, several states are running tax-free sales this very weekend. We'll break it all down so your family can save where it counts.

Here's What Happened

According to a new analysis by the Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation — based on retail transaction data covering millions of products from approximately 50,000 retailers — the 21 most common school supply items have increased in price by about 7.7 percent compared to last year. The average family is now spending roughly $173.45 on school supplies alone, not counting clothing, shoes, or technology.

And that's just the supplies. When you factor in school lunch essentials — think blueberries, bread, apple juice, and packaged snacks — prices for those items are up about 11 percent, pushing total estimated annual costs for supplies and school meals to nearly $4,000 per child, according to the same analysis.

Here are some of the biggest price spikes, according to the analysis:

• Lunch boxes: up 27%

• Notebooks, notebook paper, tissues, and index cards: up about 20%

• Scissors: up 14%

• Dry erase markers and glue sticks: up 8%

• Headphones, binders, crayons, and pencils: up 5–7%

• Blueberries (12 oz): up a staggering 48%

• Sandwich bread: up 22%

• Apple juice: up 20%

A separate survey conducted this summer by Intuit Credit Karma found that about half of parents with children under 18 expect to take on some form of debt to cover back-to-school shopping this year — up from 34 percent in 2024.

Why It Matters

Here's what you should know: these price increases aren't random. Multiple factors are driving costs up at the same time. Many school supplies — pencils, crayons, notebooks — are manufactured or assembled overseas, primarily in countries affected by new and existing tariff changes. Higher import duties mean higher costs for retailers, which get passed to you at checkout.

On the food side, blueberries offer a clear example. About half of the blueberries Americans eat are imported from countries like Peru, where growers have shifted some exports toward other markets due to trade conditions. Meanwhile, domestic blueberry farmers in states like Maine face higher costs for harvesting equipment because of tariffs on steel and aluminum, according to a letter Sen. Susan Collins sent to the U.S. Department of Commerce in December 2025. Higher fuel and shipping costs — connected in part to geopolitical tensions — are adding to expenses across the supply chain.

The result: families are paying more at a time when many household budgets are already stretched.

What This Means for the Village

For parents and caregivers, this is simply a harder year. A parent in Duluth, Georgia, profiled in reporting by PBS NewsHour and The 19th, described spending about $230 at a single Target trip to cover just some of her first-grader's supply list — and she stayed up all night beforehand trying to plan what to buy and what to skip. Her experience reflects what millions of families across the country are navigating right now.

About 70 percent of parents report experiencing financial strain, according to surveys conducted by ParentsTogether, a national nonprofit that works with parents across the country. The loss of SNAP benefits for more than 4 million Americans — including 1.5 million children — over the past year has made budgets even tighter for the families who can least afford it.

For small business owners and entrepreneurs, rising supply and food costs are part of a broader pattern that affects your customers' spending power too. When families are stretched, discretionary spending tightens — which is worth factoring into your own planning.

What You Can Do Now

Let's break this down. There are several smart moves you can make right now — starting today.

1. Shop the Tax-Free Weekend — It Starts TODAY

If you live in one of the following states, TODAY is the first day of a back-to-school sales tax holiday. Shopping during this window can save you 4–10% depending on your local tax rate. That's real money on a $200 supply run:

• Illinois – August 7–16, 2026: Clothing/footwear under $125, school and art supplies. (State tax reduced by 5%; local taxes may still apply.) Source: Illinois Department of Revenue

• Iowa – August 7–8, 2026: Clothing and footwear under $100 per item. Source: Iowa Department of Revenue

• Missouri – August 7–9, 2026: Clothing under $100, school supplies under $50, computers/peripherals up to $1,500. Source: Missouri Department of Revenue

• Ohio – August 7–9, 2026: Clothing under $75 per item, school supplies under $20 per item. Source: Ohio Department of Taxation

• Oklahoma – August 7–9, 2026: Clothing and footwear under $100 per item. Source: Oklahoma Tax Commission

• South Carolina – August 7–9, 2026: Clothing, accessories, footwear, school supplies, computers/printers/software. Source: South Carolina Department of Revenue

• Texas – August 7–9, 2026: Clothing, shoes, school supplies, and backpacks under $100 each. Source: Texas Comptroller

• Virginia – August 7–9, 2026: School supplies under $20, clothing/footwear under $100; also includes hurricane prep items and energy-efficient appliances. Source: Virginia Department of Taxation

Coming up soon, don't miss these additional windows:

• Massachusetts – August 8–9, 2026: Almost any personal-use item $2,500 or under. Source: Massachusetts Legislature

• Maryland – August 9–15, 2026: Clothing/footwear $100 or less; first $40 of a backpack. Source: Maryland Comptroller

• Connecticut – August 16–22, 2026: Clothing/footwear under $300 per item; backpacks newly included. Source: Connecticut Department of Revenue Services

Note: Always verify with your state's official tax authority, as eligibility rules, price caps, and participating retailers can vary. A comprehensive list of all 2026 state sales tax holidays is maintained by the Federation of Tax Administrators at taxadmin.org.

2. Make a Master List and Stick to It

Before you shop, write out exactly what is required by your child's school. Many supply lists include extras that are optional. Separate the must-haves from the nice-to-haves, and focus your tax-free weekend on the required items first.

3. Compare Prices Before You Leave the House

Use apps like Flipp, Rakuten, or your store's own app to compare current sale prices. Many major retailers run their own back-to-school promotions during tax-free weekends, which can stack with the tax savings.

4. Stock Up on Lunch Staples Now

With bread, juice, and snack prices elevated, buying in bulk when items go on sale can help. Airtight containers help extend the life of pantry staples and reduce food waste — which is especially valuable when the cost of every loaf of bread counts. Packing lunches from home, even a few days a week, adds up to significant savings over the school year.

5. Look for Local Backpack and Supply Drives

Many churches, nonprofits, and community organizations host free back-to-school supply giveaways and backpack distributions every summer. Check your local library, community center, or social media neighborhood groups — help is often closer than you think.

6. Shop Secondhand for Big-Ticket Items

For items like backpacks, calculators, headphones, and clothing, thrift stores and apps like Facebook Marketplace, ThredUp, and OfferUp can offer significant savings — especially on higher-cost items where the price hikes have been steepest.

7. Avoid Taking on Debt for Supply Shopping

With half of parents considering debt for school shopping, this is worth saying plainly: a child who goes to school with last year's backpack and a fresh box of crayons is prepared. A family starting September already in credit card debt faces a harder year. Buy what you need, skip what you don't, and take the tax savings where you can find them.

How the Village Can Help

The village is strongest when it's prepared — and when it looks out for neighbors. Here are a few ways to help the families around you:

• Share this article with a parent you know who might not be aware of their state's tax-free window.

• Donate to a local school supply drive or backpack giveaway — even a pack of notebook paper or a box of pencils makes a difference.

• If you're a teacher, check out DonorsChoose.org to post classroom supply needs directly — community members, businesses, and even corporations fund classroom requests every year.

• If you are an employer or small business owner, consider a simple back-to-school supply drive for employees or customers. It builds goodwill and it helps.

• Check with your church, mosque, or community organization — many have quiet assistance programs for families who need help with school costs but may not ask.

Sophie's Suggestions

A few items in the Sophie's Mart catalog are genuinely useful this back-to-school season:

• 24-Piece Airtight Food Storage Container Set | Pantry Organization ($39.99) — With school lunch costs up 11%, packing lunches from home is one of the fastest ways to save. These airtight containers help you prep and store meals, snacks, and pantry staples efficiently so nothing goes to waste. Shop it at sophiesmart.com

• Love a Latte Canvas Shoulder Bag | School Tote ($18.00) — A sturdy, affordable canvas tote that doubles as a school bag or activity bag for older students. A practical option when lunchbox prices are up 27% and you're looking for budget-friendly alternatives. Shop it at sophiesmart.com

• Follow the Word, Not the Herd Youth Sweatshirt ($25.00) — Faith-inspired kids' apparel for the new school year. Clothing is one of the categories covered under several state tax-free holiday programs this weekend, so if you're in a qualifying state, now is a smart time to pick this up. Shop it at sophiesmart.com

Front Porch Takeaway

A prepared family — one that knows where to shop, when to shop, and what to skip — can meet this school year with confidence, not debt.

Sources

• Groundwork Collaborative & The Century Foundation, analysis of NielsenIQ retail transaction data, reported via PBS NewsHour / The 19th, July 30, 2026

• Intuit Credit Karma, Summer 2026 survey of parents with children under 18

• ParentsTogether Action, national parent surveys (2026)

• U.S. Sen. Susan Collins, letter to U.S. Department of Commerce, December 2025

• Federation of Tax Administrators, 2026 State Sales Tax Holidays (taxadmin.org)

• Individual state tax authority publications: Illinois DOR, Iowa DOR, Missouri DOR, Ohio DOT, Oklahoma Tax Commission, South Carolina DOR, Texas Comptroller, Virginia DOT, Massachusetts Legislature, Maryland Comptroller, Connecticut DRS

• This content was generated by AI.