Finger Lakes families gearing up for the new academic year are grappling with an uptick in school supply costs.
With U.S. inflation rates having escalated from 1.4% to 3.2% since 2021, Statista reveals that the average spending on school items per household has surged from $696 to $890 within the past five years.
Local families have lamented the increased cost of goods as kids head back to school. Worse yet, the high demand has stripped many stores of supplies, leaving shelves nearly empty as the school year begins.
Schools and educators have risen to the occasion, extending their efforts to help families by coordinating backpack drives and collaborating with community organizations.
Parents can find the comprehensive list of school necessities on their respective district’s website.
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