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Back to school: the price of supplies on the rise

2021-08-27T13:02:37.040Z


The price of school supplies has increased only slightly this year, according to professionals and consumer associations. What does


Good news for families, a few days before the start of the school year.

Unlike last year, the prices of school supplies increased only slightly.

This was observed by the Confederation of Families (CSF), which conducted a study on the cost of the start of the school year in France.

Last year, the association had recorded an increase of 6.2% of this cost, in particular in anticipation of a possible reconfinement.

The expected increase is this time more contained, around 1%.

“It's very anecdotal compared to last year,” explains Johan Jousseaume, confederal secretary of the association's Education sector.

Tuition cost: + 0.75%


And for details enthusiasts and rate table specialists, the complete file is also available: https://t.co/mvqKtVtOaZ#coutdelascolarite2021

- The CSF (@la_csf) August 18, 2021

This low average variation, however, hides a more contrasting situation, he explains.

First, because the expenses are very different depending on the school level: for an average cost of the start of the school year of around 330 euros including sports equipment, parents of a child entering CP will have to pay on average 190 euros against 400 for a future high school student for example, according to the CSF.

The price of notebooks and paper decreases

In addition, conventional supplies, notebooks, pens, are a less important item of expenditure this year, in particular because "their reuse is more important", explains Johan Jousseaume.

Professionals in the sector are also announcing "good news for consumers": accessories show a drop of 1.5% in their prices and notebooks and paper a drop of 4.6%, said the Association. stationery and office manufacturers (AIPB).

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On the other hand, "the cost of sports supplies has increased very significantly," regrets Johan Jousseaume, pointing to the increase in the price of raw materials such as cotton or wool.

Even if the situation is nuanced, he further indicates, "the start of the school year continues to weigh heavily and very significantly on the most modest households", especially as the exceptional re-entry allowance bonus (ARS) of 100 euros, decided in 2020 by the government, “has not been renewed” this year.

A hard blow given that "families are emerging from the crisis more in difficulty".

“There are more families with modest incomes and the poor have become poorer,” according to the study conducted by the Confederation of Families (CSF).

Increased sales

In any case, the French have already started their back-to-school purchases well, unlike the previous year marked by strong uncertainties.

Should we buy pens and notebooks, or printer cartridges and a tablet for home schooling?

“Last year, there was a lot of wait-and-see attitude towards the start of the new school year, this year not at all, the start of the new school year represents + 12% compared to last year”, recently pointed out to BFM Business on CEO of Système U Dominique Schelcher.

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In July, the panelist GfK Market Intelligence identified a trend of + 9%, for total sales of 113 million euros in supermarkets, where the French do most of the back-to-school shopping. "However, the activity has not completely returned to normal: the turnover for the start of the 2021 campaign is down -5.6% compared to 2019", according to Carole Beyly, GfK consultant, cited in a press release.

Jacques Creyssel, the general delegate of the federation of mass distribution (FCD), warned against a health pass effect weighing on the largest stores. "Some French people are afraid to go to these stores, which makes people fear a significant loss" during the back-to-school shopping period for these stores in shopping centers of more than 20,000 m2, subject in certain departments to the control of the health pass.

Source: leparis

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