AZE.US
With less than a month remaining before the new academic year, families across Azerbaijan have begun purchasing school uniforms, backpacks, notebooks and other supplies.
Rising demand is expected to push some prices higher and reduce the availability of seasonal discounts.
School backpack prices currently vary widely depending on their design and quality, while prices for uniforms for the 2026–2027 academic year have also been announced.
Economist Khalid Karimli told Demokrat.az that retailers typically offer discounts and promotional campaigns when demand is low. The situation changes, however, in the weeks leading up to the start of school.
“When demand is already high, sellers have no need to offer additional discounts,” Karimli said. “This eliminates the likelihood of lower prices and may instead lead to a certain increase.”
The financial burden is not limited to a single expensive purchase. Parents must buy backpacks, notebooks, pens, pencils, paints, albums, uniforms and numerous other items. While each product may appear relatively affordable on its own, the total cost can place significant pressure on a household budget.
Karimli said current prices make it difficult for some families to provide children with all the supplies they need. The impact is particularly severe for low-income households, where back-to-school expenses account for a larger share of monthly income and may force families to reduce spending on other essential needs.
Prices differ only slightly from last year, according to the economist. However, even modest increases across an entire set of school supplies add to the overall burden.
Demand is expected to rise further as the first day of classes approaches, potentially increasing prices and leaving parents with fewer opportunities to find discounts.
AZE.US