Back-to-school spending just hit a record high in 2026. Every headline is running the same number. Almost nobody is running the one underneath it: the average American family is spending only 0.7% more than last year, which after inflation means they are buying less. In this video I break down the NRF data, show where the “record” actually comes from, and walk through what back-to-school really costs a normal household in 2026.
Are back-to-school costs actually at a record high?
Why is per-family spending flat while total spending is up 10 percent?
What does the back-to-school data tell us about the wider consumer economy?
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#BackToSchool #CostOfLiving #Inflation
Chapters:
00:37 Even School Buses Have FEES
04:22 School Supplies Lists Are Getting Crazier And Crazier
06:10 Spent $1100 On School Supplies
07:56 $197 for Back-to-School Shopping
09:27 $157 School Supplies On Walmart
11:38 Notebooks Costs $3 Each
13:52 Book Bag Prices Are Too Pricey
15:23 Expensive Back-to-School Shopping
16:53 $742 For A Pair Of Shoes
18:59 Schools Are Starting To Be A Money Grab
21:02 Tax Money Should Fund Schools
22:25 Already Spent $700 And Shopping Isn’t Done Yet
24:53 Back-to-School Expenses Hit an All-Time High
additional tags: back to school 2026, school supply costs, school supplies inflation, cost of raising kids, family budget 2026, consumer spending 2026, NRF back to school, education costs, parenting costs, household budget, school shopping, real wages
