'Back to school' cost down for primary, up for 濒测肠茅别
The cost of this year鈥檚 谤别苍迟谤茅别 (鈥榖ack to school鈥�) has dropped for primary schools but risen slightly for those at 濒测肠茅别 (high school) level.
That鈥檚 according to the Confederation Union of Families (in French, the Conf茅d茅ration syndicale des familles (CSF)), which has again calculated the average estimated budget required for each pupil to buy everything needed for the new school year.
According to their figures, prices have dropped for primary-age children, stayed the same or dropped for those in 肠辞濒濒猫驳别 (middle school), and risen for those in 濒测肠茅别.
The budget for a child entering their first year of school has been calculated at 鈧�150 (down 2,8% compared to 2016), and 鈧�360 for a child going into 6e (肠辞濒濒猫驳别; a drop of 2,3 %).
In contrast, a student entering 2de g茅n茅rale (濒测肠茅别) can expect costs of more than 鈧�420 (up 2,6% compared to 2016).
This drop in primary and college is due to 鈥渓ess expensive than average purchases than those seen in 2016鈥�, explained the CSF, especially when parents have the power to decide to buy less expensive items for younger children.
The rise in the cost of 濒测肠茅别 is largely due to an increase in sporting equipment or new apparel needed, which becomes a 鈥渟ocial marker鈥� for older students, said the CSF.
鈥淔amilies [of older children] are often asked to buy two or more pairs of new trainers, for example,鈥� stated the CSF, which counts items of clothing specifically for school in its calculations.
The pre-谤别苍迟谤茅别 period is seen as a big opportunity for supermarkets, which put on increased numbers of promotions on bigger packs of stationery items, as they know that shoppers are likely to be stocking up for the next few months.
Beno卯t Marotte, director general of the stationery company Bic, noted that the cost of simple items such as paper, glue or pens has risen by only 0,6% in the past three years but increased in value by 7%, thanks to 鈥渋nnovative choices from consumers, and higher-quality products that last longer鈥�.
鈥淪upermarkets and hypermarkets have made big efforts on their prices when it comes to back-to-school goods,鈥� added Patrick Chr茅tien, president of the Familles de France association - which also calculates the cost of going back to school - speaking to .
