FAMILIES may have to increase their budget or buy what is only needed for school supplies after the Department of Trade and Industry (DTI) noted a price increase in a majority of school supplies brands.
On May 25, 2019, DTI saw an increase between 2018 and 2019 in the suggested retail price of commonly bought school supplies like notebooks, writing pads, and pens.
Prices for a majority of 80-leaves notebook brands for composition and writing have increased -- Advance notebooks are now at P18.50to P18.75 from P16 to P16.75 in 2018; Papelikha, P17 from to P14; Veco, P19 from P17.25; Pandayan, P22 from P18. Notebook Spiral of 80-leaves also increased by P0.90-P5.75 per piece.
The most inexpensive brand for writing pad papers for Grade 1-4 is the Eagle at P8 from P6 in 2018. The 80-leaves Pandayan is P15.50 from P12.50; Best Buy is P15.50 from P11; Orions is P18.75 from P15.75; Papelikha is P44 from P35; Hapi is P10.90 from P7.80; XO JR is P11 from PP7.90; and Easywrite is P42.75 from P37.75. The only brand without increase is Sakura which is still at P11.
There are only slight changes on pen prices as it ranges from P6 to P27 per piece and P12 to P32.75 for a pack of three pieces. While pencil ranges from P7.50 tl P13.25 per piece of the brands Pandayan, HBW, and Mongol and P18 to 39.75 for three pieces pack on other brands. Last year, pencil ranges from P12 to P37.50 for three pieces per pack which means there was an increase for 2019.
For crayons, only the brands Coleen (P20 to P59 this year from P16 to P48 last year), Faber Castell (P19.75 to P54.75 from P17.75 to P49.75) and Sterling (P21.75 to P59.75 from P17.75 to P44.75) increased in SRPs while the rest remain the same.
All ruler and sharpener brands increased by P2 to P5 per piece this year compared to the previous year as it ranges from P10 to P39.75 for sharpeners and P11.75 to P36.76 for rulers.