As the cost of living continues to put financial pressure on families, some are feeling the pinch even more with back-to-school shopping. ATB Financial chief economist Mark Parsons says cost of living is the number one issue in Canada. “Prices are so much higher today than they were five years ago coming out of the pandemic. And I think what’s lost in the conversation about inflation coming down from its peak, is that prices have never actually declined,” Parsons told CTV News Edmonton on Friday. He says the real impact to a family navigating back-to-school is having their disposable income “eaten up by higher costs elsewhere” – from gas, to food, and housing. “Every September arrives faster than you’d like it and all of a sudden – with kids myself – I think, ‘Wow. Geez. It really starts to add up,’” Parsons said. Michelle Taylor and her two boys, River and Hunter, were out shopping for school supplies in west Edmonton on Friday. They made stops at both Walmart and Staples. “They’re not loving it, but we’re getting it done,” Taylor, a preschool teacher, said with a chuckle. Her two boys – who will be going to grade one and three – have spent the summer break skateboarding, with one last family camping trip planned before the school year begins. “I think getting back into routine is the hardest,” she said. Her advice to other parents is to “shop the sales.” “I got everything probably for under $150, including some back-to-school clothes,” said Taylor. “So just got to shop around and find your deals and be patient and try to be patient with your kids.” Mom Jenna Nydam and daughter Kesrin were also out shopping for supplies on Friday. Kesrin will start high school in the fall. Nydam’s advice is to act earlier and reuse what you can. “I usually at the end of the school year try to squirrel away what I can and reuse it in the fall because they tend to bring back a lot of supplies,” she said. Parsons adds that back-to-school shopping will continue to be a “pressure point” for families. “I think this is going to be much like last September. Where cost of living was an issue then, and it is today. It’s just not going away anytime soon,” the economist said. Some Edmonton Public Schools will begin on Aug. 31. Edmonton Catholic Schools will start on Sept. 2. for most students. With files from CTV News Edmonton’s Evan Kenny
