New York parents preparing their kids for the first day of school are finding supplies cost more than ever — an added strain on families already struggling to make ends meet.

The higher prices are a result of the 30% tariffs President Donald Trump imposed on imports from China this year, which affects nearly everything children need for school, said Brett House, a professor of economics at Columbia Business School.

They are expected to hit low-income families especially hard, coming as federal cuts reduce the amount of support they are getting for other expenses, including food and housing assistance.

Organizations that typically donate school supplies for families who cannot afford them are finding they are also stretched thinner as the number of people in need rises.

Sapreet Salu

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