Parents preparing for the upcoming school year may face higher costs and fewer choices when shopping for back-to-school items, according to Patrick Penfield, a professor of practice in supply chain management and director of executive education at the Syracuse University Whitman School.
Penfield advises families to start their shopping early. He explains that tariffs are leading to increased prices and reduced product variety. Retailers are responding by ordering less inventory from countries with high tariffs and seeking domestic sources instead.
“Increased prices and lack of product variety due to tariffs will impact back-to-school shoppers this fall. Many retailers have been trying to manage tariff price impacts by ordering less inventory from high tariff countries and trying to source domestically. Products such as apparel, sneakers, backpacks, pens and pencils will cost more and there will be less options for these items.
“Prices on back-to-school items could be 15-25% higher by Sept. 1.”
Penfield’s comments suggest that parents should plan ahead if they want access to lower prices and a wider selection of products.
For further information or interview requests, contact Daryl Lovell, Associate Director of Media Relations at Syracuse University.
