Denver parents facing pricey back-to-school season

Driving the news: Denver Public Schools' fall semester kicks off Aug. 18, giving parents just two more weeks to get shopping done — and figure out how to pay for it.

By the numbers: Denver parents are expected to spend an average of $784 per child this year, $42 more than 2024's estimate — and 37% higher than the national average of $570, per Deloitte.

• 72% of local parents say their household finances are the same or worse than last year.
• 40% expect the economy to decline in the next six months.

Between the lines: Higher costs are prompting families to rethink their shopping strategies, prioritizing essentials, trading down to generic brands and pulling back on clothing, supplies and home goods.

• Still, many say they'll splurge for the right deal — or if their children sweet-talk them into it.

What they're saying: "For local retailers, that means it's time to focus on building loyalty by meeting parents where they're at, and offering value they can't refuse," Cory Vann, an audit and assurance partner at Deloitte, told Axios Denver in a statement.

The big picture: Amid concerns about the economy and their financial situations, K-12 parents nationwide are planning to tighten their budgets and focus on the essentials.

• 83% say their financial situation hasn't improved since last year, and 54% expect the economy to weaken by 2026 — the lowest levels Deloitte has tracked in the past five years.