Introduction to the Issue
César Iván Escalante Ruiz, head of Mexico’s Federal Consumer Prosecutor’s Office (Profeco), announced that school supply lists for the 2025-2026 academic year can have a price difference of over 200 pesos, depending on the store. This conclusion stems from a monitoring period starting June 16th, which analyzed 689 essential items for the return to school across primary and secondary grades.
Price Ranges by Grade
First and Second Grade Primary (Elementary)
For these grades, the 10 basic items range in price from 203.87 to 418.80 pesos, with an average cost of 305.70 pesos.
Third Grade Primary
The list for third-grade students presents a price range of 223.68 to 454.81 pesos, with an average cost of 333.27 pesos.
Fourth, Fifth, and Sixth Grade Primary
For the final grades of primary education, Profeco found that the list can vary between 237.68 to 493.82 pesos, with an average cost of 354.74 pesos.
Secondary School (Three Grades)
For the three secondary school grades, Profeco established a price range from 295.04 to 598.82 pesos, with an average cost of 436.27 pesos.
Recommendations for Families
In light of these differences, Escalante Ruiz advised families to compare prices using the “Quién es Quién en los Precios” tool available on Profeco’s website. He also suggested visiting at least three different stores to ensure the purchase of the most affordable items and protect family finances.
The Post-Vacation Spending Hangover
According to Poliester, 85.88% of parents believe that school supply and uniform prices will be higher compared to last year.
- 61.20% plan to buy fewer products
- 27.23% intend to purchase the same amount
Parents are also dealing with a “post-vacation hangover” as 36.45% spent more than 2,000 pesos on summer activities, and 28.04% spent between 500 and 1,000 pesos.
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