# Inflationary impact on back-to-school spending > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/inflationary-impact-on-back-to-school-spending > Updated: 2026-08-13T13:09:49.000Z. Sources: 7. Developments: 2. Inflationary pressures are impacting back-to-school spending in the United States and Spain. In the United States, rising costs for children’s footwear have led to a decrease in purchase volumes. Analysis indicates that while average selling prices for shoes rose by 7% between January and June 2026, the total number of pairs sold dropped by 9%. Industry data suggests that footwear price growth is on pace for its fastest increase in 34 years, excluding the pandemic years of 2021 and 2022. As a result, parents are increasingly price-comparing, seeking discounts, or opting for more economical and versatile models to manage household budgets alongside other rising costs like food and gas. In Spain, the 2026-2027 school year is seeing a rise in online spending, with average orders for supplies expected to reach 198 euros. This trend occurs amid a 3.5% annual inflation rate driven largely by energy costs, with high-cost categories such as electronics, books, and uniforms driving the increase in spending. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-13: Rising children's shoe prices strain back-to-school budgets Rising shoe prices are straining family budgets during back-to-school shopping, with footwear inflation on pace for its fastest growth in 34 years, excluding the pandemic era. 5 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/rising-childrens-shoe-prices-strain-back-to-school-budgets ### 2026-08-12: Inflation pressures back-to-school spending in US and Spain Rising inflation is driving higher back-to-school costs in the US and Spain, forcing families to buy fewer items or increase online spending to manage budgets. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/inflation-pressures-back-to-school-spending-in-us-and-spain --- Cite as: Inflationary impact on back-to-school spending. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/inflationary-impact-on-back-to-school-spending