The start of the school year will be placed under the sign of savings.
The Trade Union Confederation of Families (CSF) recorded a slight decline of 2.64% in expenses related to the start of the school year.
Of 109 families surveyed, most are focusing on essential purchases and adopting "
cautious behavior
".
Several factors explain this drop, in particular the attention paid to “
the quality-price ratio of supplies
”.
In its report, the CSF observes a "
trend at work for a few years already
" with "
families who watch carefully what they spend, limit their pleasure purchases and sometimes favor price to the detriment of quality
".
“
A euro remains a euro
”, bids the association.
Read alsoWhen it comes to buying school supplies, there are no small savings for parents
Families “
also check the remaining school supplies before doing the back-to-school shopping
” and thus favor the reuse of old supplies.
“
This is the first year that families have told us that they are taking back unfinished notebooks
,” says Patrick Salün, president of Unaape.
Added to this is “
the impact of inflation which is not yet visible on all products
” because the distributors have signed their contracts upstream and the stores are offering many references “
in batches at reduced prices
”.
“
An increase will surely be passed on for the start of the school year in September 2023
”, declares Johan Jousseaume, Confederal Secretary.
"Less money for catering or school transport"
This year, the average cost of school supplies represents 190.38 euros in primary school, and 377.85 euros in middle school/high school in the general stream.
According to the CSF, the most significant reduction in expenditure is in the CP class.
The average basket, containing supplies, sports equipment and ancillary costs, thus fell from 180.61 euros in 2021 to 162.64 euros in 2022 (-9.97%).
For average prices (CM1-CM2), the basket fell from 239.17 euros in 2021 to 218.11 euros in 2022 (-8.81%).
Johan Jousseaume notes “
that the Covid crisis had led to a fairly significant increase in expenditure in 2021, in particular with the purchase of masks or hydroalcoholic gels
”.
If families tighten the belt, the CSF also fears that they “
have less money to devote to other types of expenses such as catering or school transport
”.
The organization thus calls for "
a completely free school for all children aged 3 to 6
", "
free school supplies throughout the year
" whatever the level and "
a reduced rate of VAT on school supplies .
schools
”.
