Back-to-School Spending Rises to Average 863 Dollars Per K-12 Student in 2026

Families with K-12 students are spending an average of $863.86 on back-to-school supplies in 2026, according to data from Experian's latest personal finance report. That figure is up from prior years as inflation continues to push prices higher across clothing, electronics, and school supplies.

The increase adds pressure to household budgets already strained by elevated costs for food, housing, and energy. Inflation remains above the Federal Reserve's 2% target, and wage growth has slowed to 3.2% year over year, below the current inflation rate of 3.5%.

Financial advisors recommend setting a firm budget before shopping and comparing prices across multiple retailers. Many stores offer back-to-school sales in late July and early August, and buying generic or store-brand supplies can reduce costs significantly.

Some families are turning to buy-now-pay-later services to spread out the expense, though financial experts caution that these arrangements can lead to overspending if not managed carefully.

Tax-free shopping weekends, offered by several states in late summer, provide another opportunity to reduce costs on qualifying items like clothing and school supplies.

The back-to-school season is the second-largest retail spending period of the year after the winter holidays, and retailers have been competing aggressively for consumer dollars amid a challenging economic environment.