DTI: Most school supply prices unchanged this year
Prices of school supplies have largely remained stable this year, with more items posting price cuts than increases ahead of the opening of classes, according to the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI).
In its latest school supplies price guide, the DTI said more than half, or 109 of the 210 stock-keeping units (SKUs) it monitors, retained their 2025 prices. Meanwhile, 18 percent recorded price reductions ranging from P1 to P27.
Only 10 percent of listed items registered price increases, mostly among writing materials. The guide also includes 41 new SKUs this year.
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An SKU is a unique identifier used by retailers to categorize products based on brand, type and size.
“There are a lot of cheaper school supplies options for students this year,” Trade Secretary Cristina Roque said in a statement on Saturday. “This gives parents and students excellent, budget-friendly choices as they prepare for the opening of classes.”
According to the DTI guide, writing and composition notebooks now cost between P13 and P52, while spiral notebooks range from P14 to P59 and yarn-bound notebooks from P17 to P47.
Grade pad paper is priced between P13 and P37, while intermediate pad paper ranges from P22 to P69.75.
For writing materials, pencils cost between P12 and P18 per piece or P15 to P24 per pack. Ballpens are priced from P3 to P21 per piece and P18 to P27 per pack.
Reference guide
A box of crayons costs between P12 and P114 depending on the number of colors, while erasers sell for P8 to P20 each. Sharpeners range from P16 to P69 and rulers from P8 to P32.
The DTI’s price guide, which covers only basic school supplies, only serves as a reference for consumers.
These suggested prices are not legally binding, meaning retailers cannot be fined for selling above the listed amount. However, the agency still encouraged consumers to report possible pricing and consumer protection violations.
Additionally, the DTI guide does not cover tuition and school books, particularly those used by private schools, which fall outside the agency’s authority.
The Commission on Higher Education earlier appealed to higher education institutions to defer any tuition increases for the coming academic year, saying it was “not the right time” amid higher energy costs triggered by the conflict in the Middle East.
Roque led price-monitoring activities in Divisoria, the Baclaran LRT Station area and National Book Store at the Mall of Asia ahead of the June 8 opening of School Year 2026-2027 in public schools. INQ
