Tariffs Raise Back-to-School Costs for Michigan Families

Michigan Smart Trade Alliance analysis finds pencils and crayons was up 171% higher

LANSING, Mich. — August means Back-to-School shopping for millions of American families. Classroom supplies, sporting equipment, and new clothes are on many families' shopping lists. However, tariffs are increasing the financial burden on family budgets.

To understand how tariffs are impacting this year’s back-to-school costs, the Michigan Smart Trade Alliance (MISTA) analyzed a variety of items commonly found on back-to-school lists.

We specifically looked at the total amount of tariffs collected and the effective tariff rate on products imported from March to June 2026 – after the replacement of IEEPA tariffs with Section 122 tariffs – and compared it to the same period in 2024, before large scale tariffs were imposed. This time period also coincides with when many back-to-school items are imported into the United States for the upcoming school year.

We then calculated the amount of additional taxes that were paid this year as a result of the higher tariff rate.

For example, the effective tariff rate on these products increased rapidly:

• Pencils and crayons: 171% higher
• Binders and folders: 147% higher
• Calculators: 327% higher
• Soccer balls: 261% higher
• Shoes: 71%

While the size of the increase in the effective tariff rate was higher for school supplies and sporting equipment, the increased tax bill was even larger for shoes and clothes, reflecting the large level of imports for these items.

“The sticker shock from higher school-supply costs driven by tariffs is crushing family budgets,” added John Sellek, a spokesman for MISTA. “Tariffs are causing the price of many back-to-school supplies to skyrocket and those costs are paid by Michigan families. It is time for a bipartisan-led effort in Congress to generate thoughtful trade policy that can help reduce costs and give families and businesses greater economic certainty. ”
 

* Calculated by applying the 2024 effective tariff rate to the 2026 value of imports and subtracting that number from the level of 2026 duties.

** Average across multiple HTUS codes covering products in this category.