Families face rising back-to-school costs as spending nears $900

In the United States, families are preparing for the back-to-school season, with spending projected to reach nearly $900 per household this year. This figure represents approximately 13% of the average monthly income for American families, highlighting the financial burden that school supplies can impose. To help consumers make informed decisions, CBS LA consumer investigator Kristine Lazar conducted a price comparison of essential school supplies at three major retailers: Walmart, Dollar Tree, and Target. The investigation aimed to identify which store offered the best deals for common items needed for the upcoming school year.

Lazar's comparison included a variety of school supplies, starting with composition notebooks. The prices varied slightly among the retailers, with Walmart offering the lowest price at 38 cents, followed closely by Target at 39 cents, while Dollar Tree's price was significantly higher at $1.25. This pattern continued with other items, such as pencils, where Walmart again provided the best value with a pack of 12 Ticonderoga pencils for 47 cents, compared to Target's $2.99 for the same brand and Dollar Tree's smaller pack of four for $1.25.