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Back to school 2026: the cost of school supplies drops to 181 euros

Back to school 2026: the cost of school supplies drops to 181 euros
Back to school 2026: the cost of school supplies drops to 181 euros

The average cost of school supplies for a student entering sixth grade will reach €180,80 for the start of the 2026 school year. This cost was €211,10 the previous year, representing a decrease of €30,30 and 14,35% in one year. This reduction offers a slight respite for families, even though the start of the school year remains a period of significant expenses for many households.

Non-paper supplies represent the largest category, with an average expenditure of €92,23, accounting for 51% of the total basket. Clothing and sports equipment saw the sharpest decrease, at €45,87, a drop of 24,2%. The price of notebooks, paper, and other stationery items, however, remained virtually unchanged at €42,70.

A basket containing 47 products

The survey is based on prices recorded during the second half of July for 47 items commonly requested by schools. The list includes eleven stationery items, thirty-three non-stationery items, and three sports equipment items. Families are encouraged to compare prices between retailers and take advantage of promotions before prices potentially rise.

This decrease, however, comes amid rising inflation, which reached 2,1% year-on-year in July, compared to 1,8% in June. Energy saw the most significant increase, rising by 12,6%, linked in particular to tensions in the Middle East and supply difficulties. Increased transport and production costs could therefore eventually be passed on to some school supplies in the coming months.

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