Asheville Families Take 2 Jobs, Seek Aid as School Supply Prices Rise Nearly 8%

Q: Beyond notebooks and shoes, what hidden daily expense is silently draining parents' wallets long after the back-to-school shopping is done?

The quiet budget drain is the daily cost of getting children to and through the school day, especially gas and lunch. In the North Carolina story, the most immediate hidden expense is transportation. Gas prices are running about 25% higher than a year ago, and UNC Asheville economist Robert Tatum specifically advised families to combine errands and school-related trips to cut fuel use. That matters because school drop-offs, pickups, after-school activities and repeated store runs keep costing money long after notebooks and shoes are bought. Lunch is another recurring expense that can add up quickly. Additional reporting cited with the story notes that packed lunches now average about $6.33 a day nationally, while school cafeteria lunches average roughly $3.15. Even lower district prices can still mean $13 to $20 a week per child if a family pays full price. Grocery inflation in staples like bread, lunch meat, fruit, peanut butter and drinks is pushing those costs higher. Together, these everyday costs help explain why parents feel squeezed even after the main back-to-school shopping is over. The burden is not just the one-time purchase of supplies, but the ongoing rhythm of fuel, food and other school-day logistics. Experts say families can reduce some of the pressure by planning trips efficiently, buying only essentials, using school meal programs when eligible and turning to local assistance such as school supply drives or charities for broader household support.

2 articles · Updated · WLOS · Aug 20

Asheville-area families are working extra hours, cutting spending and turning to supply drives as back-to-school costs squeeze already stretched household budgets.
3.4% annual inflation and nearly 8% higher school-supply prices are driving the strain, with one-subject notebooks up 23% and No. 2 pencils up more than 6%.
National Retail Federation estimates show K-12 shoppers now spend nearly $300 on electronics, $250 on clothing and accessories, $174 on shoes and $146 on school supplies.
Gas prices are about 25% above year-ago levels, adding pressure beyond classroom purchases and prompting advice to combine errands to save fuel.
Eblen Charities is offering help with school and other essential needs, while a UNC Asheville economist said inflation is unlikely to ease significantly soon.