Brandi McGrath and Other Parents Struggle with Rising Costs of School Supplies
Brandi McGrath, a parent from Salt Lake City, is navigating the increasing costs of back-to-school shopping as families across the country face significant price hikes. Analysis shows that a typical school supply list now costs nearly $175, an 8% increase from the previous year. These rising prices are attributed to inflation, high gas prices, and the administration's tariff agenda, which has increased the cost of many products manufactured overseas. Parents like Brandi McGrath are forced to search for sales and cheaper alternatives, such as plain folders instead of decorated ones. Many families are already entering the season with credit card debt, with 57% of parents reporting credit card debt. To mitigate these costs, experts suggest using loyalty programs, renting textbooks, and purchasing used materials. The administration announced that while energy prices may come down, the administration's economic agenda is cleaning up the mess left by the previous administration to deliver growth. thought:<channel|>```json, {
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Their finances were tough. Then came 'insane' back-to-school costs
USA Today
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Most schools ask parents to buy almost $100 of back-to-school supplies
The Washington Post
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What Back-to-School Says About the Economy
WSJ
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MARK-TO-MARKET: The cost of the 2026 back-to-class shopping season
The Quad-City Times
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3 money-saving tips for back-to-school shoppers
Local News 8