The .gov means it's official. Federal government websites often end in .gov or .mil. Before sharing sensitive information,
make sure you're on a federal government site.
The site is secure. The
https:// ensures that you are connecting to the official website and that any
information you provide is encrypted and transmitted securely.
The start of the school year comes with budgeting for a variety of expenses. For instance, students need books. In May 2025 (the latest data available for some school-related items), prices for educational books and supplies, such as elementary, high school, and college textbooks and reference books, were 9.4 percent higher than a year earlier. Students can't learn well on an empty stomach; they need food. Prices for food at elementary and secondary schools, usually at the school cafeteria, were 3.3 percent higher than a year earlier.
12-month percent change in Consumer Price Index for All Urban Consumers (CPI-U), selected expenditure categories, January 2000–July 2025
Month
All items
Food at elementary and secondary schools
Elementary and high school tuition and fees
Day care and preschool
Snacks
College tuition and fees
Educational books and supplies
Boys' apparel
Boys' and girls' footwear
Girls' apparel
Jan 2015
-0.1
2.3
4.0
3.0
1.0
3.6
6.5
-1.2
5.4
0.7
Feb 2015
0.0
2.4
4.0
3.0
3.3
3.3
5.8
-1.2
5.8
1.4
Mar 2015
-0.1
2.5
4.0
3.4
3.1
3.4
6.7
-1.2
9.6
-1.1
Apr 2015
-0.2
2.4
4.0
4.2
2.8
3.4
6.1
-1.8
7.7
-3.4
May 2015
0.0
2.3
4.1
4.2
2.1
3.4
5.8
-2.0
6.9
-4.2
Jun 2015
0.1
1.5
4.0
4.3
3.5
3.4
5.2
-2.6
4.4
-4.5
Jul 2015
0.2
–
3.8
4.5
2.5
3.5
5.4
-3.9
1.2
-3.6
Aug 2015
0.2
-2.8
3.6
4.3
2.9
3.3
4.7
-0.1
2.0
-0.1
Sep 2015
0.0
3.4
3.6
4.2
3.2
3.7
4.5
-1.3
-0.1
-4.6
Oct 2015
0.2
4.7
3.7
4.2
2.3
3.5
4.3
0.6
-1.7
-7.7
Nov 2015
0.5
4.4
3.8
4.2
2.3
3.5
4.6
3.6
-1.3
-5.8
Dec 2015
0.7
4.6
3.7
4.1
1.9
3.5
4.4
1.3
-2.6
-2.4
Jan 2016
1.4
4.7
3.8
3.7
2.8
3.1
3.6
1.3
0.0
-2.3
Feb 2016
1.0
4.8
3.8
3.9
-0.3
3.2
3.2
-0.4
2.5
-1.3
Mar 2016
0.9
4.7
3.8
3.2
1.3
3.1
2.5
-1.7
-0.5
-0.1
Apr 2016
1.1
4.6
3.9
2.5
1.8
3.0
3.7
0.3
1.2
-2.9
May 2016
1.0
4.7
3.6
2.4
1.8
3.1
3.7
-0.6
0.1
-0.3
Jun 2016
1.0
5.5
3.4
2.4
0.8
3.0
5.8
0.4
-1.1
1.1
Jul 2016
0.8
–
3.2
2.4
0.6
2.7
5.7
3.1
0.3
-4.7
Aug 2016
1.1
12.0
3.3
2.7
0.8
2.3
5.5
3.2
0.6
-2.8
Sep 2016
1.5
3.7
3.0
2.4
-0.4
2.2
5.8
4.4
1.5
2.0
Oct 2016
1.6
1.9
3.5
2.7
0.4
2.2
5.6
3.0
2.9
3.1
Nov 2016
1.7
2.1
3.4
2.5
-0.5
2.1
6.0
-1.6
2.9
1.6
Dec 2016
2.1
2.1
3.5
2.9
-0.9
2.3
5.5
-1.8
2.6
0.5
Jan 2017
2.5
2.0
3.5
3.2
-0.4
2.1
4.1
-3.4
2.5
-1.4
Feb 2017
2.7
1.8
3.4
3.2
-0.6
2.0
5.5
-0.9
-0.7
-3.0
Mar 2017
2.4
1.8
3.3
3.1
-0.1
1.9
6.0
0.0
1.3
0.0
Apr 2017
2.2
1.9
3.3
3.0
0.2
1.8
3.3
-2.8
1.3
2.1
May 2017
1.9
1.8
3.5
3.0
-0.6
1.7
2.4
-3.1
-0.2
-1.1
Jun 2017
1.6
-1.9
3.7
2.9
-0.9
1.9
1.1
-7.8
1.5
-0.5
Jul 2017
1.7
–
3.7
2.5
-1.3
2.0
2.0
-5.8
-0.1
5.6
Aug 2017
1.9
0.2
3.8
2.2
-0.4
1.9
0.4
2.7
-1.4
2.6
Sep 2017
2.2
1.6
3.9
2.2
-0.1
2.1
-1.6
0.7
1.5
0.5
Oct 2017
2.0
-2.6
3.6
1.9
0.0
2.2
-1.3
-4.7
-0.2
-0.1
Nov 2017
2.2
-2.6
3.7
1.9
1.5
2.3
-0.5
-5.2
-1.3
-1.5
Dec 2017
2.1
1.4
3.7
1.8
0.5
2.1
-1.8
-3.9
0.7
1.2
Jan 2018
2.1
1.4
3.7
1.4
-0.3
2.2
-0.6
1.7
-2.5
0.3
Feb 2018
2.2
1.6
3.7
1.4
0.8
2.0
-0.4
4.4
-2.1
0.7
Mar 2018
2.4
1.6
3.8
1.3
-0.5
1.7
-0.4
3.4
0.2
-1.1
Apr 2018
2.5
1.5
3.8
1.4
-0.3
1.7
0.4
5.7
1.5
1.5
May 2018
2.8
1.8
3.6
1.5
-0.1
1.7
4.3
7.9
0.3
2.8
Jun 2018
2.9
5.7
3.6
1.6
0.8
1.7
2.8
10.2
-1.2
-0.6
Jul 2018
2.9
–
3.9
1.5
2.0
2.0
1.9
4.1
3.5
-2.0
Aug 2018
2.7
3.2
4.8
2.0
0.3
2.7
1.0
-3.4
4.6
-3.8
Sep 2018
2.3
1.7
4.9
2.1
1.6
2.4
1.8
2.7
0.2
-2.4
Oct 2018
2.5
6.0
4.7
1.5
1.5
2.8
0.7
8.9
-1.3
-0.5
Nov 2018
2.2
6.1
4.5
1.7
1.3
2.8
-0.9
11.9
-0.4
-0.7
Dec 2018
1.9
2.0
4.4
1.9
0.6
2.8
1.0
13.1
-1.9
-4.3
Jan 2019
1.6
2.0
4.4
2.1
0.4
2.9
0.0
11.3
4.5
-1.6
Feb 2019
1.5
1.8
4.4
2.2
0.9
3.1
-0.2
10.5
7.8
1.9
Mar 2019
1.9
1.9
4.4
2.3
0.8
3.8
-0.9
6.2
3.6
-2.9
Apr 2019
2.0
1.9
4.4
2.3
-0.1
3.9
-0.4
0.6
0.4
-5.0
May 2019
1.8
1.6
4.2
2.7
-0.1
3.8
-4.0
-0.7
-0.2
-4.5
Jun 2019
1.6
1.6
4.1
2.8
0.5
3.4
-2.1
1.7
1.6
4.1
Jul 2019
1.8
–
4.1
3.4
-1.6
2.9
-3.0
4.4
0.8
4.0
Aug 2019
1.7
1.7
3.0
2.7
-0.8
2.5
-0.4
7.2
1.4
1.5
Sep 2019
1.7
2.3
2.2
2.8
-1.2
2.4
-1.9
5.4
1.4
-1.1
Oct 2019
1.8
2.4
2.6
3.4
-1.9
2.0
-2.0
0.3
3.2
-5.0
Nov 2019
2.1
2.4
2.6
3.3
-2.4
1.9
-1.5
-3.9
3.1
-2.2
Dec 2019
2.3
2.3
2.7
3.4
-1.6
1.7
-2.0
-4.0
3.3
2.8
Jan 2020
2.5
2.2
2.7
3.2
-1.9
1.9
-3.1
-9.8
1.1
2.3
Feb 2020
2.3
2.2
2.6
3.5
-0.6
1.9
-3.2
-11.1
1.4
1.3
Mar 2020
1.5
2.2
2.7
3.5
-0.3
1.7
-2.7
-5.2
-0.4
3.3
Apr 2020
0.3
–
2.9
3.5
3.9
1.6
-1.7
-7.5
-3.3
2.3
May 2020
0.1
–
3.3
2.9
3.2
1.7
-0.9
-10.5
-3.0
-0.7
Jun 2020
0.6
–
2.8
2.9
4.6
1.7
-1.7
-8.0
-2.5
-4.4
Jul 2020
1.0
–
2.2
2.9
6.0
2.1
-0.8
-3.7
-5.0
-4.4
Aug 2020
1.3
–
2.4
2.7
4.6
1.3
-1.3
-5.8
-7.4
0.7
Sep 2020
1.4
-5.9
2.8
2.4
3.3
0.7
0.2
-11.4
-8.7
2.4
Oct 2020
1.2
-6.1
2.4
2.3
4.5
0.6
0.9
-10.1
-5.9
1.9
Nov 2020
1.2
-14.3
2.3
2.3
3.5
0.6
0.2
-7.1
-0.9
2.1
Dec 2020
1.4
-14.2
2.3
2.2
4.8
0.7
0.7
-5.5
-1.6
2.8
Jan 2021
1.4
-21.9
2.3
2.1
3.7
0.4
3.0
1.5
-1.9
7.7
Feb 2021
1.7
-32.5
2.3
1.7
2.9
0.4
3.4
-0.3
-5.5
3.4
Mar 2021
2.6
-43.5
2.3
0.8
3.0
0.3
0.9
2.9
-4.7
-0.5
Apr 2021
4.2
–
2.1
1.0
-0.5
0.3
1.4
6.7
2.0
0.6
May 2021
5.0
–
2.5
1.6
-1.0
0.3
2.1
8.0
6.4
7.5
Jun 2021
5.4
–
3.1
1.5
-1.9
0.4
2.5
5.5
5.7
5.6
Jul 2021
5.4
–
3.5
1.6
-1.8
0.2
2.6
2.6
3.6
5.0
Aug 2021
5.3
–
3.1
1.7
-0.4
0.8
0.4
1.4
5.9
2.8
Sep 2021
5.4
-56.1
2.4
2.4
1.9
1.7
0.3
4.4
11.9
-0.5
Oct 2021
6.2
-58.8
2.4
2.7
3.2
1.8
0.4
6.0
7.5
0.3
Nov 2021
6.8
-58.6
2.5
2.7
5.9
1.9
0.2
8.4
2.2
-0.4
Dec 2021
7.0
-63.7
2.3
2.7
5.6
1.8
-0.4
8.1
4.1
-2.5
Jan 2022
7.5
-59.8
2.3
2.7
8.2
1.9
2.6
6.7
6.3
-4.3
Feb 2022
7.9
-53.3
2.3
2.8
8.0
2.0
0.8
9.1
10.3
0.0
Mar 2022
8.5
-43.5
2.3
3.6
9.3
2.1
3.8
4.4
11.0
5.0
Apr 2022
8.3
-42.9
2.3
3.7
9.8
2.1
2.2
3.8
5.0
4.7
May 2022
8.6
-43.5
2.9
3.2
13.6
2.1
3.7
5.9
5.0
0.5
Jun 2022
9.1
–
3.1
3.7
14.3
2.2
3.7
6.5
6.7
1.8
Jul 2022
8.5
–
3.1
3.2
16.5
2.4
3.1
4.8
7.7
1.6
Aug 2022
8.3
–
3.2
3.7
16.7
2.8
4.6
7.4
6.8
4.8
Sep 2022
8.2
–
3.5
5.1
14.7
2.1
4.6
3.6
3.5
9.0
Oct 2022
7.7
–
3.5
4.9
13.8
2.0
4.7
1.2
2.6
7.1
Nov 2022
7.1
254.1
3.5
5.3
11.1
2.0
5.3
-1.7
2.3
5.2
Dec 2022
6.5
305.2
3.7
5.4
11.0
2.3
5.4
0.0
2.9
5.1
Jan 2023
6.4
301.9
3.7
5.9
10.3
2.3
2.2
-1.0
0.9
4.8
Feb 2023
6.0
299.7
3.7
5.7
9.1
2.3
2.6
2.1
-1.0
6.7
Mar 2023
5.0
296.3
3.7
6.8
9.5
2.3
0.7
3.4
2.2
5.7
Apr 2023
4.9
296.0
3.7
7.0
10.1
2.3
0.3
3.1
4.0
5.7
May 2023
4.0
294.0
3.6
6.4
7.9
2.3
-1.3
1.6
0.6
6.8
Jun 2023
3.0
–
4.6
5.7
4.4
2.0
-2.7
2.6
-0.8
4.1
Jul 2023
3.2
–
5.0
6.0
3.7
2.0
-3.0
3.4
-1.3
7.2
Aug 2023
3.7
–
5.0
5.6
2.9
1.6
-3.4
3.9
0.9
3.5
Sep 2023
3.7
–
4.9
4.8
4.1
1.9
-2.5
5.5
1.1
-0.8
Oct 2023
3.2
–
5.1
4.8
3.1
1.5
-3.2
6.5
1.0
-0.4
Nov 2023
3.1
2.5
4.9
4.5
2.2
1.3
-4.8
3.5
-0.5
-1.5
Dec 2023
3.4
2.2
4.9
4.5
2.0
1.2
-3.6
0.2
-2.0
-4.3
Jan 2024
3.1
2.1
4.9
4.7
1.9
1.3
-4.0
1.0
-1.6
-9.0
Feb 2024
3.2
2.3
4.8
5.5
1.6
1.3
-3.5
1.2
0.5
-3.6
Mar 2024
3.5
2.0
4.8
4.4
0.1
1.2
-3.0
-0.9
-1.9
2.1
Apr 2024
3.4
1.9
4.8
4.1
-1.3
1.2
-0.8
1.9
-1.9
1.8
May 2024
3.3
2.3
4.9
4.9
-1.3
1.3
-0.6
4.3
-1.1
-1.0
Jun 2024
3.0
2.2
4.9
4.9
0.7
1.5
–
1.3
-1.6
1.3
Jul 2024
2.9
–
4.8
5.1
-2.0
1.6
–
0.9
-0.9
-1.2
Aug 2024
2.5
1.4
4.9
6.2
-2.3
1.4
–
4.3
-2.6
1.7
Sep 2024
2.4
2.9
4.9
6.0
-2.5
2.2
–
5.7
-0.3
4.0
Oct 2024
2.6
4.5
4.6
6.0
-3.6
2.6
2.5
3.3
1.6
0.8
Nov 2024
2.7
3.2
4.8
6.2
-1.6
2.6
10.6
5.0
3.4
1.4
Dec 2024
2.9
3.3
4.7
5.9
-1.9
2.6
8.1
5.7
2.5
2.2
Jan 2025
3.0
3.2
4.7
5.9
-0.7
2.2
9.9
6.1
0.1
8.0
Feb 2025
2.8
3.3
4.7
5.4
-1.3
2.2
9.4
4.5
-1.5
4.6
Mar 2025
2.4
3.3
5.3
5.6
-0.2
2.3
12.3
2.7
-2.2
-4.0
Apr 2025
2.3
3.3
5.2
5.4
-0.1
2.3
10.2
1.7
-2.9
-3.8
May 2025
2.4
3.3
4.2
5.6
0.0
2.3
9.4
2.1
-0.5
-1.3
Jun 2025
2.7
–
3.8
5.5
-0.5
2.2
–
2.4
-1.1
-2.9
Jul 2025
2.7
–
3.1
5.7
0.0
2.4
–
1.9
0.2
-1.9
Note: Data are not seasonally adjusted. Dash indicates data not available.
In July 2025, prices for daycare and preschool were 5.7 percent higher than a year earlier. Elementary and high school tuition and fees increased 3.1 percent, while college tuition increased 2.4 percent over the year ending in July 2025.
Many families buy new clothes for their young students. Prices for boys' apparel were up 1.9 percent over the year ended in July 2025, but prices for girls' apparel decreased 1.9 percent. Boys' and girls' footwear prices were little changed (rising 0.2 percent).
Prices for snacks, for after school or anytime, were unchanged compared with snack prices in July 2024.
In comparison, the index for all items increased 2.7 percent from July 2024 to July 2025. The over-the-year change in the consumer price index for all items has ranged from 2.3 percent to 3.0 percent during 2025.
These data are from the Consumer Price Index program and are not seasonally adjusted. To learn more, see "Consumer Price Index — July 2025." Also see more charts on consumer prices. Note that some school districts provided free school lunches during the COVID-19 pandemic; this results in large percentage changes in prices for food at elementary and secondary schools during that period.
United States Department of Labor
