Back to school 2025: How macroeconomic trends are impacting parents' spending

As August nears, it’s already time for parents to get kids ready for a brand-new school year.​

Back-to-school is a big buying season for many retailers and brands. But things look a little different this year as rising costs, tariffs and inflation have parents on high alert. The bottom line? Price, discounts and deals are the top priorities.​

It’s crucial during back-to-school season for marketers to understand not only how to reach their customers effectively, but also how to tailor their messages to what parents are really looking for.​

To learn more about people’s plans for back-to-school shopping, we surveyed how parents are budgeting, top spending categories, cost-saving measures and retailer and brand preferences.

Download the report to explore: ​

• How macroeconomic trends like tariffs and inflation are influencing
  what parents buy​
• Which channels have the most influence on shopping decisions​
• The dollar amount parents spent last year and which categories they plan to prioritize this year​
• Shifts in the types of retailers and brands parents shop at for back-to-
  school supplies