School supplies really do cost more this year. Here's how much, from lunchboxes to pencils

American families are facing sticker shock as prices for essential back-to-school items surge this year. Pencils, notebooks, scissors, and glue sticks, nearly every item families purchase for the upcoming school year, have seen price increases, adding to the financial strain on households already grappling with rising costs.

An analysis by the Groundwork Collaborative and The Century Foundation revealed that prices for 21 common school supply items have risen by approximately 7.7%. Parents are now spending an average of $173.45 on school supplies, marking a steeper increase than last year. When combined with an 11% rise in prices for school lunch essentials, the annual cost for supplies and meals can balloon to nearly $4,000.

Lindsay Owens, president and CEO of the Groundwork Collaborative, noted that school supply costs are outpacing inflation. She highlighted that women, who typically manage household finances, are particularly feeling the impact. "Women in this country are rip-roaring mad about the price hikes that they're absorbing," Owens stated. "They're trying to manage household finances and budgeting. They're trying to feed their kids healthy food. The work is getting harder of providing for your family."

Several categories have seen notable price jumps: lunch boxes are up 27%, notebooks and paper are up about 20%, and scissors have risen 14%. On the food side, blueberries have increased by a significant 48%, sandwich bread by 22%, and apple juice by 20%. Factors such as tariffs and global conflicts, like the war impacting trade routes, are driving up these costs. For instance, tariffs have led Peru, a major blueberry exporter, to sell more to China instead of the U.S., while tariffs on steel and aluminum increase the cost of harvesting equipment.

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Women in this country are rip-roaring mad about the price hikes that they're absorbing. They're trying to manage household finances and budgeting. They're trying to feed their kids healthy food. The work is getting harder of providing for your family.