2023-09-05 07:46:18
Inflation is also hitting the prices of school supplies, taking a toll on many families. Caritas and the Chamber of Labor criticize the fact that government support is increasingly losing its accuracy. Despite the rising costs, customers continue to appreciate the service provided by specialist retailers.
When schools start the new year on Monday, that’s not just a reason for many parents to be happy. The price increases are also reflected in school items. “The price increases vary greatly depending on the item,” explains Skribo dealer Thomas Igler in Radstadt. While the prices for exercise books in his shop have remained the same, the costs for school bags have been rising continuously for years. “Overall, of course, like any other industry, we have to adjust prices,” admits Igler. Spread over the entire shopping basket of school items, he estimates the average price increase to be around ten percent year-on-year.
However, he hardly noticed any changes in the purchasing behavior of his customers. School supplies have to be bought. “Normally, people still reach for expensive branded products when it comes to colored pencils,” says Igler, who also explains: “When the bill is printed, some people have to swallow.” Increasingly, the merchant also notices that at the end of the month, when money is already tight, less is being bought than shortly following the wage payment.
Federal funding has been increased
For those families who are dependent on financial support when starting school, there is, among other things, the “Schoolstartklar” campaign of the Ministry of Social Affairs. Households that receive social assistance or minimum income receive a voucher for the purchase of school items for schoolchildren. The amount per voucher was increased from 120 to 150 euros this year. For the first time, two vouchers will also be issued per school year. All in all, the support service was increased to 300 euros.
Criticism of insufficient accuracy
Torsten Bichler, Head of Social Work at Caritas Salzburg, welcomes this step. But he also raises concerns: “For many of these benefits, only the income side is still looked at to determine whether a family is entitled to help. But with the rise in prices, expenditure in particular has risen.” More and more households are therefore struggling with financial problems, but fail when it comes to social benefits. “This is an imbalance that needs to be revised,” said Bichler. Hilla Lindhuber, head of the education department at the Salzburg Chamber of Labour, also agrees with Bichler. “The record price increases are putting more and more families under financial pressure. Even those who are not considered to be in need according to the guidelines,” she explains. You can feel that at the AK in the corresponding consultations.
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