# Rising global back-to-school costs > Live situation record from CLSTR: https://clstr.news/situations/rising-global-back-to-school-costs > Updated: 2026-08-31T00:25:38.000Z. Sources: 9. Developments: 2. Families and educational institutions are facing rising costs for back-to-school essentials due to inflation and increased demand for technology. In Barbados, the Eden Lodge Youth Charitable Trust increased its programme budget by 23.8 per cent to over $459,000 to provide uniforms and supplies to vulnerable students. Similarly, parents in Jamaica have reported price hikes for books and uniforms, leading some to seek government assistance. In Canada, initial estimates suggested average K-12 spending would range between $600 and $750 per child. By late August, projections indicated even higher spending levels. National Retail Federation data forecasted per-person K-12 spending to reach $864, while college spending was projected to rise 8.4 per cent to nearly $1,438 per person. In Canada, the cost of laptops has specifically risen due to global demand for memory chips and components used in artificial intelligence data centers. To mitigate these expenses, experts have recommended that students consider purchasing refurbished enterprise laptops. ## Timeline ### 2026-08-31: Back-to-school costs rise amid inflation and tech demand Rising inflation and high demand for AI components are driving up back-to-school costs, particularly for college students and computing equipment in the US and Canada. 2 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/back-to-school-costs-rise-amid-inflation-and-tech-demand ### 2026-08-19: Back-to-school costs rise for families in Barbados, Jamaica, and Canada Rising back-to-school costs are impacting families globally, with charitable aid increasing in Barbados and parents in Jamaica reporting higher prices for uniforms and books. 7 sources. https://clstr.news/cluster/back-to-school-costs-rise-for-families-in-barbados-jamaica-and-canada --- Cite as: Rising global back-to-school costs. CLSTR, https://clstr.news/situations/rising-global-back-to-school-costs