Back-to-school costs rise amid inflation and tech demand

Back-to-school costs are rising significantly due to increased consumer prices. According to National Retail Federation data, per-person spending for K-12 students is expected to reach $864, while college spending is projected to rise 8.4% to nearly $1,438 per person. Total college spending is forecasted to increase by 16.6%, reaching $103.5 billion, while K-12 spending is expected to climb 9.9% to $43.3 billion.

In Canada, the cost of laptops has increased as global demand for memory chips and components rises to support artificial intelligence data centers. To manage these costs, experts recommend students look for refurbished enterprise laptops. Recommended specifications for used devices include Windows 11, at least 16GB of RAM, 256GB of storage, and an Intel CPU that is at least eighth-generation.