Back-to-school costs soar 25%

THE cost of kitting out children for the new school year has risen 25% in just 12 months, a study has revealed.

Back-to-school shopping is now worth almost £1billion to retailers.

It makes it the third-biggest payday for the industry after Black Friday and Christmas as families fork out £436million on uniforms and shoes alone. A further £164million is spent on sports kit and £104million goes on school bags.

Analysts Mintel found the cost had gone from £218 in 2016 to £273 last year.

Chana Baram, of Mintel, said: “Students want more fashionable stationery and school accessories, which adds to costs”.