Paris – French families are receiving some welcome news ahead of the 2026 school year. The average cost of a standard back-to-school basket has fallen significantly, according to the latest survey from Familles de France.

The association estimates that supplies for a student entering sixième, the first year of French middle school, cost an average of €180.80 in 2026. Last year, the same basket reached €211.10.

Therefore, the average cost has fallen by €30.30 in one year. The decline offers some relief to households preparing for the new school term.

Back-to-School Supplies Cost Less in 2026

The decline is not evenly distributed across every type of school product. Instead, some categories have recorded much larger reductions than others.

Sports equipment produced the biggest drop. Its average cost fell to €45.87, more than €14 below the 2025 level.

Meanwhile, non-paper supplies account for the largest part of the standard basket. Their average cost stands at €92.23.

However, traditional stationery has remained relatively stable. The average cost of notebooks, paper, pens and similar products moved from €42.56 in 2025 to €42.70 this year.

As a result, the overall reduction largely reflects cheaper products in other categories rather than a major decline in basic stationery prices.

Retail Prices Also Show Signs of Decline

Separate market data also point to lower prices during the main back-to-school shopping season.

According to figures from AIPB and NielsenIQ cited by Le Monde, prices are currently down an average of 1.2% in large food retailers and 2.1% at specialist stores. Across all retail channels, the decline is around 0.8%.

Some major retailers have reported even larger reductions. Coopérative U said school and office stationery prices in its stores were down 4.7% compared with last year.

Meanwhile, E.Leclerc said prices across stationery, bags, calculators and textiles were down an average of 2.4% compared with 2025.

School-Supply Sales Remain Weak

Lower prices have not necessarily encouraged families to buy more.

In July, sales of stationery and writing equipment fell 5% by volume compared with July 2025. In value terms, sales declined 5.8%, according to AIPB and NielsenIQ data.

However, specialist retailer Bureau Vallée reported a different trend. Its store traffic increased 6% in July, while revenue rose 0.5%.

Families may also be changing their shopping habits. Some are reusing supplies from previous years and buying only essential items.

Therefore, lower prices do not automatically translate into higher overall sales.

Prices Could Rise After September

The current relief may not last.

Many products being sold for the 2026 school season were manufactured and negotiated months ago. Consequently, more recent increases in manufacturing and transportation costs are not yet fully reflected on store shelves.

Industry representatives warn that products containing plastic could become more expensive later this year. These include pens, plastic folders, polypropylene notebooks and notebook covers.

One industry executive cited by Le Monde expects a broader increase of around 5% between September and December, although that remains a forecast rather than a confirmed price rise.

Currency movements could also create additional pressure. Moreover, a significant share of school supplies sold in Europe is manufactured in China.

For now, however, many French families are entering the 2026 school season with a lower standard back-to-school bill.