As families and teachers across the country get ready for a new school year, they’re being hit with sky-high inflation on everything from notebooks to backpacks to classroom supplies — the latest consequence of Donald Trump’s disastrous economic agenda. 

In response, DNC Deputy Rapid Response Director Kendall Witmer released the following statement:

“Back-to-school shopping is another reminder for families that Donald Trump’s economy is a total trainwreck. Trump’s reckless trade war is driving prices even higher, making it harder for parents to prepare their kids for school and teachers to stock their classrooms. Instead of focusing on bringing down costs, Trump is trying to gaslight the American people into believing he’s already ‘taken care of’ inflation and that ‘prices are way down’. But families feel the truth every time they check out at the register — his economy is unaffordable.”

Under Trump’s disastrous economic agenda, inflation is rising, job losses are skyrocketing, and his reckless trade war is driving prices for essential items even higher. As Trump’s erratic trade war accelerates core inflation to the “fastest annual pace in five months,” 62% of Americans expect to pay more for school supplies than they did last year, and 85% say they were concerned about rising prices thanks to Trump’s trade war. In fact, one in five back-to-school shoppers says buying supplies is straining their budget. 

Parents are being forced to spend more for less, while teachers — who already spend hundreds out of their own pockets on classroom materials each year — are digging even deeper to make sure their students have what they need. 

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