Higher consumer prices are impacting the back-to-school shopping plans of 89% of Canadian
parents, according to a new Maru Public Opinion poll.
Rising costs due to inflation are pushing more parents to hunt for deals on clothing, school
supplies and electronics. Four in 10 people surveyed (42%) said they are increasingly turning to
discount brands and curtailing their household budgets due to rising consumer prices.
Canada’s inflation rate reached 7.6% in July, its highest level in more than 30 years.
Nearly half (50%) of parents who were polled said they have set modest budgets for this year's
back-to-school shopping. Only 32% of parents said they plan to raise the amount they spend on
back-to-school shopping this year.
A separate survey by the Retail Council of Canada found that nearly a quarter (24%) of parents
plan to spend between $51 and $100 on back-to-school shopping this year, while 23% of
parents plan to spend less than $50.
Back-to-school is usually the second busiest time of year for Canadian retailers, second only to
the Christmas shopping season.
The Maru Public Opinion poll surveyed 272 Canadian adults with children going to back-to-
school. It has an estimated margin of error of +/- 5.9%, 19 times out of 20.
