Families Hit With ‘Back-to-School Tax’ as Trump Tariffs Raise Prices

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Families of students across the United States are facing significantly higher prices for basic supplies as the new school year begins, a cost burden that a new analysis blames on President Donald Trump’s sweeping tariffs and the massive Republican budget package he signed into law last month.

The analysis, conducted by The Century Foundation (TCF) and Groundwork Collaborative, estimates that prices for supplies such as index cards have risen by more than 40% this year.

Lunch staples have also gotten more expensive, with U.S. Families set to pay roughly $163 more on average for juice boxes, strawberries, and other such items this year, according to the new analysis, which characterized the higher costs as a “back-to-school tax” imposed by the president.

“President Trump’s policies are forcing families to foot higher bills for back-to-school essentials from binders and lunch-box staples to clothes, shoes, and even laptops,” said TCF senior fellow Rachel West. “From his reckless tariffs to his budget law slashing food assistance and federal student loans, Trump’s back-to-school message to America’s families is crystal clear: Don’t expect help, just expect less.”

The analysis was released just as new economic data further highlighted the impact of Trump’s tariffs on prices across the economy, with wholesale prices registering their largest monthly gain since June 2022.

TCF and Groundwork’s findings align with a recent survey by the research firm Deloitte, which found that nearly half of U.S. Parents and caregivers believe lunch costs on school days will be higher this year than in 2024.

Liz Pancotti, Groundwork’s managing director of policy and advocacy, said Thursday that “President Trump’s tax and tariff policies have turned the back-to-school season into a budgeting nightmare for hardworking American families.”

“From lunch boxes and notebooks to juice boxes and pencils, parents are being squeezed at every turn—paying more for the school supplies and meals their kids need to succeed,” said Pancotti. “No family should have to struggle to afford the basics while the wealthy and well-connected cash in on massive tax breaks they do not need.”