Back-to-School Shopping: More Expensive and Less Variety of Back-to-School Items

With many students heading back to the classroom over the next several weeks, what should parents expect as they begin back-to-school shopping for their kids?

Patrick Penfield is a professor of practice in supply chain management and director of executive education at the Syracuse University Whitman School. He provides insight about how everything from clothing to classroom items like pens and pencils may be impacted this year. His advice? Parents should begin shopping as soon as possible to get lower prices and better variety.

Penfield says:

“Increased prices and lack of product variety due to tariffs will impact back-to-school shoppers this fall. Many retailers have been trying to manage tariff price impacts by ordering less inventory from high tariff countries and trying to source domestically. Products such as apparel, sneakers, backpacks, pens and pencils will cost more and there will be less options for these items.

“Prices on back-to-school items could be 15-25% higher by Sept. 1.”

To request interviews or get more information, please contact:

Daryl Lovell
Associate Director of Media Relations, Division of Communications

M 315.380.0206
dalovell@syr.edu | @DarylLovell