(WHTM) — Back-to-school shopping is now on, especially with Amazon Prime day this week, and more sales in the next few weeks, but how are prices this year and will it again be a case of sticker shock?

The June 2024 inflation report shows consumer prices down for the first time in three years, and that’s great news for parents like Tonya Youngbird, who’ve watched prices go up an up since the pandemic, “I’m a single parent, so it’s a lot,” she said. “The prices are really good.”

The good news: stores are running great sales right now on school supplies Walmart regional manager Matt Goans says prices are down slightly from last’s years school shopping season, “these markers were $18, and now they are down to $16,” he said.

DealNews.com says now is the best time to buy notebooks, backpacks, and laptops before the best deals sell out. But it says you may want to wait when it comes to fall clothing because it is priced high right now. It says the big clothing sales start Labor Day weekend and continue through September.

But from the doesn’t that stink file, overpaying for name-brand fall clothing at the mall right now.

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After all, kids can wear their summer clothes through September, but the one thing you might want to buy new gym shoes. No child wants to start school with their mud covered summer shoes.

Remember, even if you don’t have kids in school, the next month is a great time to buy a new MacBook laptop because stores are running big laptop sales. And that way you don’t waste your money.

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