School backpacks as much as €200, pencil cases over €40, consumer service finds

The consumer protection service on Tuesday announced the average prices of school supplies from its survey.

The average price for a rucksack is €39.56, while for a wheeled backpack it stands at €51.80. Prices for rucksacks start at €6.99 and go up to €134.95, while wheeled bags start at €16 and go as high as €199.95. The average price for a pencil case is €12.99, starting from €0.99 and going up to as much as €44.95.

The average price for 80-leaf blue notebooks is €1.23, for HB pencils €0.75, for blue ballpoints €1.48, for a 12-pack of coloured pencils €3.73, for erasers €0.99, for a small ruler €1.71, and for an A4 plastic envelope with a snap button €1.06.

As for clothing, the average price for a white gym top is €6.53; a white collared top €7.62; boys’ gym shorts €11.74; girls’ gym leggings €7.42; short grey school trousers €10.50; and grey school skirt €14.21.

Quality differences not accounted for are partly the reason for the price differences, the consumer service said.

The survey was done on July 29, at a total of 16 sales points, including supermarkets, stationery, department, and clothing shops, operating in all districts.

The consumer protection service urges consumers to do their market research before making purchases.