Parents hunt for deals as inflation expected to impact school supply prices
A recent survey from the Retail Council of Canada says many parents expect to pay more for school supplies this year.
As a result, some parents said they went out early in the summer hoping to find deals, while also relying on hand-me-downs.
"Especially with COVID being over, we have gym class again where they need to change runners, so I have three sets of runners I now need to buy," said Michelle Anderson, who has kids going into grades two, four and six.
She said she has already noticed the price of food to feed her kids has gone up, but now she is feeling the pinch on school supplies.
"I need two binders and I'm spending $40 on two binders. Wow!"
The survey said a third of respondents expect to spend more on school supplies than last year. Statistics Canada lists recreation, education and reading costs as one of the nine categories of items which contribute to high inflation rate.
"I'm always worried about money, and whatever the inflation number is, I'm that percentage more worried about money, and children are expensive," said one parent who talked with CTV News Winnipeg.
It's not just parents who are paying more - so are retailers.
"We've noticed almost every supplier has had minimal increases to, you know, quite substantial ones in some cases," said Janeen Junson, the owner of Artists Emporium.
Artists Emporium sells art supplies to schools, parents and students. In anticipation of cost hikes, the company bought a lot of items in bulk from last year's stock at last year's cheaper prices.
"We have (these sketch books) on sale for $9.99. Once that is gone from last year, the new shipment has come in and they’re $11.99. They're still on sale, but they're $11.99."
Meanwhile, Anderson is hoping to rely on hand-me-downs to save money, but she knows there's always something growing in the house, whether it be inflation or not.
"They aren't stopping growing, and we're getting close in size as well with the older two," said Anderson.
The Retail Council of Canada found that clothing was the number one item for back to school spending.
CTVNews.ca Top Stories
BREAKING Another suspect arrested in Toronto Pearson airport gold heist: police
Another suspect is in custody in connection with the gold heist at Toronto Pearson International Airport last year, police say.
Poilievre-led government 'would never' use notwithstanding clause on abortion, his office says
A Conservative government led by Pierre Poilievre would not legislate on, nor use the notwithstanding clause, on abortion, his office says, as anti-abortion protesters gather on Parliament Hill.
Why these immigrants to Canada say they're thinking about leaving, or have already moved on
For some immigrants, their dreams of permanently settling in Canada have taken an unexpected twist.
Ontario family receives massive hospital bill as part of LTC law, refuses to pay
A southwestern Ontario woman has received an $8,400 bill from a hospital in Windsor, Ont., after she refused to put her mother in a nursing home she hated -- and she says she has no intention of paying it.
Here are the ultraprocessed foods you most need to avoid, according to a 30-year study
Studies have shown that ultraprocessed foods can have a detrimental impact on health. But 30 years of research show they don’t all have the same impact.
Miss Teen USA steps down just days after Miss USA's resignation
Miss Teen USA resigned Wednesday, sending further shock waves through the pageant community just days after Miss USA said she would relinquish her crown.
Cyclist strikes child crossing the street to catch school bus in Montreal
A video circulating on social media of a young girl being hit by a bike has some calling for better safety and more caution when designing bike lanes in the city. The video shows a four-year-old girl crossing Jeanne-Mance Street in Montreal's Plateau neighbourhood to get on a school bus stopped on the opposite side of the street
Trump hush money trial: Play-by-play on Day 2 of Stormy Daniels testimony
Adult film star Stormy Daniels took the stand for a second time Thursday as former U.S. president Donald Trump's hush money case continues in Manhattan.
B.C. wildfires likely to spread with weekend temperatures expected to soar, province says
Wildfire and emergency management officials in British Columbia are urging residents to be prepared for increased fire activity as temperatures are expected to soar above 30 C in parts of the province this weekend.