For now that ofAntitrust It is a preliminary relationship, but any parent has found himself in front of a list of books to buy for the new school year in recent weeks knows that the costs are high and seem higher than the past years.
The anti -retraction investigation
Since September of last year, the authority of the competition and the market has started an investigation into the sector of school books, reaching some conclusions that are not definitive (the authority has invited companies in the sector to send observations by the end of September editor’s note), but which play family members: the publishers are few, often new editions with minimal variations are adopted, which however make it difficult to use the volumes of the older brothers, and the discounts are few. In reality, the variations should be 20%, but the guarantor points out that there is ample discretion in making them.
For elementary schools it is the state that provides books and therefore to buy them, for middle and high school, the family are made to make the purchase based on the indications that come from teachers. “The commercial dynamics of school books are peculiar, as the application, on the one hand, is bound to purchase in the context of mandatory educational paths, on the other is conditioned by decisions of subjects other than buyers and final users, such as teachers or institutions of various degree, with a consequent weakening of the price variable in orienting consumer choices that can be in fact obliged”.
The survey then reports that 80%of the market is four publishing houses: 80%of the market: Mondadori (32%), Zanichelli (25%), Sanoma (13.5%) and the school (8%). According to the Antitrustust in 2024, sales rose by 13 % compared to 10 years earlier despite the decline of students starting from 2019. The average expenditure went between 4 and 5 % to a student: 580 euros for the entire medium cycle and 1250 euros for superiors.
By decree there is a spending roof for books, but often in the indications of the schools there are books reported as recommended that become mandatory and there is also the choice of digital books that have minor costs, but are not reusable. The digital edition is on license to those who download it and cannot be downloaded twice and can only do it from the platform of the publishing house. This means that there is less paper used, but also a copy used less to buy at a lower price. Are then limited to 15% by law of Maximum discounts applicable at the cover price. The limitation was inserted to avoid the competitive of large retailers compared to other channels, but has become damage to the consumer.
For the publishing houses with the investigation of the Guarantor, fines and new rules for the sector could arrive.
Costs 2025
The average increase in textbook prices in 2025 is 1.7% for first grade secondary school and 1.8% for secondary school, in line with inflation (1.7% in May on an annual basis, preliminary estimate of Istat). The Italian Editori Association says so on the basis of the list prices provided by the publishers and transmitted to the Ministry of Education and merit.
The expenses are particularly high for the pupils of the first classes, but you can also spend 400 euros for a third year of high school. The Adoc Consumer Association estimates that this year the average cost of books for the first year of middle school stands at 355.23 euros and for schools higher than 552.69 euros. If the backpack, case and other materials are added, you can touch the 500 and 700 euros. All without counting the dictionaries. You get to spend up to 2500 euros for secondary schools in child. The messenger He reports the words of Anna Rea, president of the Adoc: “The prices of textbooks continue to grow, putting a strain on family budgets, especially those of the less well -off and more and more parents are forced to worship themselves between WhatsApp groups, neighborhood chat and second -hand markets in an attempt to recover used school books at affordable prices”.
How to save for school expenses?
Both books and part of the school material can be purchased used. THESavings is between 27% and 55% Compared to the new. There are bookstores specializing in used, social and online groups and also organized exchanges within schools. This choice, as well as economic, is Green.
Federconsumatori explains: «As far as books are concerned, it is necessary to check the edition of the texts, avoiding to buy those too dated. Even those who buy or receive older texts can still count on the additions: just use the help of the professors or companions who have purchased the new edition “.
Used is valid for backpacks and cases that you don’t need to buy every year. There are articles, such as drawing material for middle schools or musical instruments, which I can be reused and are often made available.
School materials and books can be purchased in the large -scale distribution points. Savings is 18% on school material compared to other stores. The discount on books varies according to the chains: it is usually 12% compared to the cover price, but there are those who bring discounts on the shopping or purchase of notebooks and pens up to 20%. Even buying online can lead to a 10%saving.
Esselunga It has a school discount. Books can be booked online until 27 October with a 13% discount and 300 strawberry points accredited by 30 Novemberafter the withdrawal, on the Fìdaty card which placed the minimum order of 150 euros. The good friends of school and sport remain. Bookif you buy new school books, gives a 15% purchase voucher of the purchase value, to be used by 31 December 2025. Carrefourmakes an immediate discount of 15% on the cover price like Coop. Same discount from Conad.
Most school texts are available in digital editions that they also cost over 35% less. However, it is necessary to have a support, PC or tablet, and the professors must accept them. In addition to the fact that it is not always easy to study on this type of texts.
It is not necessary to buy everything immediately and above all it is not necessary to buy everything in advance. It is not necessary to buy all notebooks for the school year in September. Products related to characters and brands are cheaper.
Teachers often deliver the list of necessary tools at the beginning of the year, but they will not all be used immediately. In the following months it is bought at lower prices. There are promotional kits, but they are not always convenient because they do not always have all the necessary products or have not used by the boys. Better to wait for the entry into class and the indications of the professors to buy dictionaries and texts that are only recommended on school lists.
Like when you shop, it is better to have a list to avoid duplication and choose the most convenient products. There are also purchasing groups: buying all together and then dividing saves. The costs to put transparent covers to books have increased everywhere.
Regions and Municipalities provide funds to help families in difficulty buy textbooks and, sometimes, even school materials. The institutional sites must be checked, but also those of the schools report the calls. To access the contributions, the ISEE must be submitted, each region indicates the limit to have the contribution.
Yes, I can use to buy the texts the Culture Card and the Merit Card. They both apply 500 euros and are for adults. Adoc asks for the 19% tax deduction in the tax return to school books.
Source: Vanity Fair
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