Back-to-school expenses in Spain will be higher this year than in the previous year, the Organización de Consumidores y Usuarios (OCU) said [1].
Rising costs for school supplies and related services are placing a significant financial burden on households during the transition to the 2025 academic year [2]. The increase in prices is forcing many parents to change how they procure essential educational materials.
Data indicates that seven out of 10 families must now resort to second-hand school material to manage these costs [2]. This shift toward used goods reflects a broader trend of economic pressure on Spanish families as they prepare for the new term.
In certain regions, the financial impact is particularly acute. In Aragón, the average spending per pupil is approximately 500 euros [3]. This figure encompasses the various requirements for students to begin their studies, from textbooks to stationery.
The OCU said that the rising prices of supplies are the primary driver behind the increased expenditure [1]. While some families may find ways to mitigate these costs, the overall trend shows a nationwide increase in the price of basic educational needs [2].
Families are facing a market where the cost of new materials has outpaced their budgets, leading to a higher reliance on community sharing and second-hand markets [2]. The OCU continues to monitor these price fluctuations to provide guidance to consumers navigating the academic shopping season [1].
“Seven out of 10 families have to resort to second-hand school material”
The shift toward second-hand materials suggests that inflation in the education sector is outpacing household income growth in Spain. When a vast majority of families must avoid new supplies to afford schooling, it indicates a systemic affordability crisis in basic educational access that may require policy intervention or subsidies to ensure equity among students.
