The return to school will be on February 26 and will bring not only a 50% increase in private school feesbut also a 500% increase in school basketaccording to a survey of Focus Market. Bookstore items are among those most affected by inflation.
Damián Di Pace, director of Focus Market, explained that bookstore products suffered significant increases after the devaluation in December 2023, combined with a strong seasonality in demandwhich resulted in a price variation above average in these months.
In relation to 2023, a kit of 20 tools schoolchildren quotes about $38.000 in commercial bookstores, when in February Last year it was around $9,000.
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Los blade spare parts for drawing topped the list of increases, reaching $1,748 and presents a 483% increase Over the previous year. They followed school labels (386%)the valid (340%)las scissors (308%)and the 48-sheet flexible cover notebooks (301%).
Consequently, the current prices are shocking: scissors over $1,000, erasers between $250 and $850, marker sets at $4,500, metal compass at $1,890, rulers and protractors between $600 and $1,100, the box of 12 Filgo colored pencils at $1,789, the box of four pencils at $1950, among others.
Las backpacks now they range between $12.000 the cheapest and others cost more $550000while the cartridges they go from the $4.900 a $6.000.
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Los notebooks do not go below $3000. The 50-sheet lined Rivadavia notebook, widely used by elementary school children, costs $5,000. The cheapest option is the América brand, with a price of $1860 and 42 sheets.
The booksellers say that One of the reasons for the gap is the cost of paper, which rose above the CPI.and the imported inputswhich were triggered due to the appreciation of the official dollar for foreign tradewhat rose almost 120 percent on December 14when Javier Milei’s government devalued.
Basic combo for primary and secondary level
On the other hand, in detail, a basket of products composed of a school backpack basic with straps and 21 useful costs from $39.000, while last year the total price was around $10,442. This means a 273% increasea figure well above the 2023 inflation rate, which stood at 211.4%, as reported by the Index
A basic combo for the primary levelconsisting of a duster, backpack with straps and supplies costs $62.099, which means an increase of 251% compared to last year. If you replace the backpack to be worn on your back with one with a cart, and the pencil case with a two-story one with a 3D effect, the total price amounts to $172.099. In 2023 this combo cost $52,282.
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For him Secundary levela kit of 28 products, with classic everyday supplies, costs $34.695. The increase compared to 2023 is 241%. If you want to add a basic backpack, there will be an extra expense of $12,600.
According to market analysts, many people have been advancing purchases since last December. “The Three Kings’ gift for some kids was school supplies”, explained the specialists.
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Also, it is necessary to have equipment that allows us to carry out some of the tasks demanded at school.
Purchase a kit of celular Android 4Gheadband headphones with microphone and a data plan is equivalent to disbursing $320.000, against $75,000 in 2023.
A most complete techno basketwith notebook, multifunctional printer, headband headphones with microphone and Wi-Fi connection costs $770.000. The increase compared to 2023: 540%.
Travel to Capital to get better prices
This week the movement in Buenos Aires areas such as Avellaneda Avenue, in Flores, and El Once, began to be noticed much more strongly. Even, Entire families who came from the interior to “summer” in Buenos Aires take the opportunity to return with cars loaded with supplies. Everything is to get a better price on that large purchase that is made in February every year.
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The clothing rose 17.2% in December, well below the general cost of living, which was 25.5%. Furthermore, unlike what happened in 2022, the increases in the “clothing and footwear” category were lower than those in prices in general: 17.2% in December and 169.4% in relation to 2022.
Still, the numbers are scary: for what was paid 10,000 pesos at the beginning of 2023, now we have to face a cost of 27,000. Clothing increased above that average in the Conurbano (174.7%) and Patagonia (173.6%). In the Northeast, the increase was in line with the national average: 169.7%.
In the Pampas area, inflation of clothing and footwear was 167.1% according to INDEC, 157.7% in the Northwest and 148.2% in Cuyo.
The middle class in danger due to inflation
The impact of the cold statistics is translated into the response given by the sellers of different bookstores.
“Previously, strong purchasing started in February. Now we notice that people already started thinking about school in December, they slowed down a little in January, and in February they finish completing what is necessary, each one within what they can.“, says a salesman from the largest commercial bookstore in the still thriving Caballito Sur, a few meters from Acoyte and Rivadavia, the main commercial area of that typical middle-class neighborhood. The middle class that still survives, of course, the rest has already fallen into decline. .
Thus, the return to the classroom is presented with significant increases, adding another concern for parents who already face increases in rent, expenses, food, cleaning products, clothing, fuel, transportation and various items, practically leaving the middle class out. of combat.
rm / ds