School supplies: UFC-Que Choisir points out prices are still too high
The slight decline observed in 2024 did not continue. School supply prices are up 2% this year, according to an estimate released Tuesday, July 15, by the consumer protection association UFC-Que Choisir, which points to an expected spike in early September.
"Overall, the prices of school supplies remain high," explains Noé Baudoin, head of studies at UFC-Que Choisir, in the wake of "the sharp increase that occurred in 2023."
Of 118 products analyzed by the association between the beginning of July 2024 and the beginning of July 2025, 41 saw their prices increase by 2% or more, 23 recorded a decrease of at least 2%, and 54 remained stable.
According to the association, the 10% increase in the price of supplies in 2023 , due to the surge in the price of raw materials – particularly paper pulp and oil – has never been completely erased, even though the cost of these materials has "returned to its lowest level" .
"When raw materials go up in price, prices are directly impacted. However, we don't really see this in shelf prices when they go down," says Noé Baudoin.
Another lesson from the study: the timing of purchases has a significant impact on budgets. Prices tend to drop slightly during the summer but peak around the start of the school year in early September.
"The main advice is really not to do your shopping at the start of the school year, even if it's tempting to wait for instructions from the teachers," notes Noé Baudoin.
La Croıx
