The first to be affected are the notebook manufacturers, who are also affected by the increase in paper prices in addition to inflation.
This year, the start of school is likely to weigh more heavily on parents’ wallets than in the past: Due to inflation, the price of school materials is expected to rise by 10 to 25%.
Notebook manufacturers in particular are likely to increase their prices, particularly because of the significant increase in paper costs. “My father and my uncles, who both have more than 60 years of experience, told me that they had never seen anything like it,” Guillaume Nusse, CEO of Clairefontaine, told France Info.
The price of paper pulp has increased by almost 70% in one year.
“Crazy Inflation”
“We are accumulating an acceleration of crazy inflation and, above all, a shortage of components of products without substitutes. The cover of the notebook, made of paper, thicker or plastic, is difficult to find, as is the packaging. And for a moment, we even thought we wouldn’t have any more labels,” continues Guillaume Nusse.
Material prices are likely to make another jump a few months after the start of the school year. In fact, the prices for the beginning of the 2022 school year were set in January, that is, before the start of the war in Ukraine. If the latter is taken into account by consumable manufacturers, the increase could be of the order of 40%.
In view of this, the FCPE, the first association of pupils’ parents, is calling for a reassessment of the back-to-school allowance, which will now be paid from July.