Life News

Back-to-school bills: a record $43.3bn in the US, £2,636 for after-school care in England

As schools prepare to reopen, outlets in the US and UK have been counting the cost. NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth, reporting a National Retail Federation survey, said US spending on school supplies for kindergarten to 12th grade will hit a record $43.3bn, up from $39.4bn last year, with college spending also at a record $103.5bn. Electronics are the biggest item, and 64% of shoppers expect higher prices.

“Affordability is a concern for families and a top priority for retailers as we enter the back-to-school season.” — Mark Mathews, NRF, via NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth

In Britain, The Guardian analysed data from the charity Coram: after-school care for children aged 5 to 11 in England now costs £2,636 a year, up 42% in a decade, while Wales reaches £2,824. Holiday childcare typically adds more than £1,700, and Nationwide found parents spend £381 a year on uniform and sports kit. Almost half of the parents Nationwide surveyed said they were stressed about the cost.

ITV News reported research for the Irish League of Credit Unions which found almost two in five parents in Northern Ireland get into debt over back-to-school costs. It visited a school uniform swap shop in Co Armagh, linked to a new law requiring schools to help cut uniform costs.

How each outlet framed it

• NBC 5 Dallas-Fort Worth — retail spending: records, electronics and deal hunting.
• The Guardian — the hidden bill: childcare and activities beyond the school gate.
• ITV News — debt and practical fixes, such as second-hand uniforms.

What we don't know yet: The surveys measure different things, from national retail totals to one region's parents, so they cannot be compared directly.