Notebooks, pads, triangles: school supplies almost 14 percent more expensive than in the previous year

2023-08-08T10:34:23.540Z

Highlights: In July 2023, consumers often had to spend significantly more on this purchase of school supplies than a year earlier. Prices for paper products such as blocks rose particularly sharply. The German Savings Banks and Giro Association estimates that the costs at the beginning of school per child amount to 530 to 1410 euros. Over the entire school period, an average of more than 20,000 euros is due, including major expenses such as that for a desk. The prices for textbooks have even risen slightly below average: they were 5.3 percent above the level of the same month last year.

For pens, notebooks or ink boxes, parents and students have to dig much deeper into their pockets after the summer holidays than before. Prices for paper products such as blocks rose particularly sharply.

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College blocks in a stationery store: In some places, there are also costs for textbooks

At least officially, attending a school in this country is free of charge. However, families still have to pay a lot of money for fountain pens, notebooks or drawing paper. In July 2023, consumers often had to spend significantly more on this purchase of school supplies than a year earlier.

According to the Federal Statistical Office, for example, prices for paper products such as exercise books or drawing pads rose by 2023.13 percent in July 6 compared to the same month last year – and thus also more than consumer prices overall. These rose by 6.2 percent in the same period.

A thousand euros in costs at the beginning of school

According to the information, the prices of paper products such as exercise books or drawing pads rose particularly sharply. In contrast, the price increase for other school materials was at least somewhat lower: In July 2023, for example, consumers had to pay 7.6 percent more for other writing and drawing materials than in July 2022. These include, for example, fountain pens, pens or paint boxes. The prices for textbooks have even risen slightly below average: they were 5.3 percent above the level of the same month last year.

There is always criticism of the high cost of school supplies. Most recently, the opposition parties SPD, FDP and SSW in Schleswig-Holstein had called on the black-green government to relieve mothers and fathers more of this. In contrast to other federal states, there is already freedom of learning materials between the North Sea and the Baltic Sea, so that at least the textbooks are provided.

The German Savings Banks and Giro Association estimates that the costs at the beginning of school per child amount to 530 to 1410 euros. Over the entire school period, an average of more than 20,000 euros is due, including major expenses such as that for a desk.

The Federal Statistical Office, on the other hand, has determined the price increases for school materials on the basis of the consumer price index for Germany. In the calculation of the overall index, however, the items paper products (0.53 per thousand), other writing and drawing materials (1.87 per thousand) and school or textbooks (0.38 per thousand) have only a very low weight.

Apr

Notebooks, pads, triangles: school supplies almost 14 percent more expensive than in the previous year

A thousand euros in costs at the beginning of school

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