School enforces standardized attire for parents
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The 2025-2026 academic year is approaching, and parents in Russia are gearing up for the back-to-school season. However, the cost of school clothing and supplies remains a concern for many. Here's a look at the trends in school clothing and supplies costs in Russia for the upcoming academic year.
According to data from T-Pay, the number of children's clothing purchases in July decreased by 12% year-on-year, while the average check increased by 19% to 1,300 rubles. This trend is consistent with the general increase in prices due to inflation. The cost of a basic school clothing set in 2025 ranges from 15,600 to 23,900 rubles, with an average increase of 7% year-over-year.
The cost of school supplies is also on the rise, with the cost of a set of 11 items for a standardized school student estimated at 16.2 thousand rubles in July 2025, with an increase of 7% year-over-year. Stationery, however, is 25.5% cheaper in 2025, costing an estimated 5.5 thousand rubles.
The cost of school clothing and supplies varies by region and socioeconomic factors, but there is a lack of detailed, Russia-specific figures on average costs for girls and boys or distinctions by school level for 2025-2026. Consumer behavior may follow global patterns of careful budgeting and seeking discounts, but there is no direct information addressing this specifically for Russia in 2025.
Shopping centers traditionally offer special programs to attract customers during the back-to-school period. Footfall in children's clothing and accessories stores doubles during this period compared to the average annual level. The peak in sales for school-related products occurs during the last week of August to the first of September.
The average check for buying school dresses increased by 13% year-over-year in June-July 2025. The average cost of basic clothing for girls in lower grades in July 2025 was 18.5 thousand rubles, and for boys, it was 15.6 thousand rubles. The average cost of a schoolchild's clothing set is currently around 11.7 thousand rubles, according to analysts.
Boris Katz believes that the peak period in traditional retail is being smoothed out due to the shift in demand to online marketplaces. The average purchase price in traditional retail is 3-3.5 times higher than online, according to Natalia Kermedchieva. Children's shoes and boots were sold 7% less, t-shirts 8%, and backpacks 19% less during the same period.
The contraction of the consumer basket, as families often focus on necessary purchases due to the slowdown in income growth, is another reason for the decrease in sales, according to Mikhail Vasilyev. Education spending documents from a World Bank report focus more on equipment per student rather than personal items like clothing or supplies, providing no further granular cost breakdowns.
In conclusion, while school supply and clothing costs are likely to continue a gentle upward trend consistent with inflation, there is a lack of detailed, Russia-specific figures on average costs for girls and boys or distinctions by school level for 2025-2026 in the available search results. Consumer behavior may follow global patterns of careful budgeting and seeking deals but cannot be confirmed specifically for Russia at this time from current data.
- To manage the growing costs of school clothing and supplies, some parents might consider turning to finance options like loans or savings plans, as education-and-self-development becomes a top priority for many households.
- To balance household finances while ensuring their children have necessary school items, parents may also seek out lifestyle adjustments, such as reducing expensive purchases or finding ways to save on groceries and utilities, in order to allocate more funds towards school supplies and clothing.
