The price of school supplies increased again this year and a basket of eight essential items for students now costs 14% more than in 2022, according to a price comparison platform.
The conclusion released today comes from the KuantoKusta platform, which analyzed the average price of a set of school items, which include pencils, ballpoint pens, notebooks, backpacks, pencil cases, compasses, scientific calculators and pen drives.
«The average cost of the basket for a 2nd cycle student reached 122,58 euros on August 27th of this year, an increase of 15,22 euros compared to the same period in 2022, when the cost was 107,36 euros », says the platform in a statement.
According to KuantoKusta analysis, buying new school supplies for students is 14,2% more expensive this year than in 2022, registering an increase of around 33% compared to 2021.
Among the various items that make up the basket, the biggest difference is in the price of ballpoint pens, around 57,9% more expensive, including compasses (19,8% more), pencil cases (18,5% more) and scientific calculators (18,4%).
On the family side, the increase in prices is felt «at all levels» and school supplies are no exception, explained the president of the National Confederation of Parents' Associations (Confap) to the Lusa agency.
«There are many materials that are in fact indispensable and families must bear these costs», he said, recalling that, although some local authorities support the most needy students by making some of these materials available, «all families should have the same opportunity”.
According to KuantoKusta, one way of trying to minimize these costs can be to compare the lowest prices for each item, an exercise that can save up to 21 euros.
«The back-to-school period is marked by campaigns and promotions, and it is always important to monitor price developments and take advantage of savings opportunities that arise», explains Ana Rego, from the platform's marketing team.
The strategy is already adopted by families, who often resort to promotions offered during the return to school period by large supermarkets. But, in this case, laments the president of Confap, the expenses are not deductible from the IRS.
«There is not even the possibility of refund. There should, at least, be a strategy to ensure some financial return on the IRS, which, in these cases, does not happen », he defended.
For some families, this year, in addition to the usual expenditure on other school supplies, this year will include the expense of purchasing new textbooks, as they have been informed by the schools that students who now reach the 4th year would lose the right to to the 'voucher' that allows you to have new free manuals because the books delivered were written or crossed out.
Although the Ministry of Education has now decided to open an exceptional period for corrections in the allocation of vouchers, many parents had already purchased books for next year, explained the Confap director.
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