In this month of July, while school holidays are still ongoing, market stalls are already beginning to fill up with notebooks, pens, and other school supplies. In Analakely, the capital’s main market, retailers have anticipated the upcoming school year. However, this year, consumers will have to face a price increase compared to last year.
“The price of our items depends entirely on the rates set by wholesalers and suppliers. When their prices rise, we are forced to pass this increase on to our products,” explains Manampy, a school supply retailer for several years.
Thus, some branded notebooks like “Classinn” are now offered at 15,000 ariary per pack, compared to 13,000 ariary last year. “Calligraphe” brand notebooks follow the same trend, with their price rising from 15,000 ariary to 16,000 ariary per pack.
The increase also concerns basic supplies, such as pens. “We buy pens at 500 ariary each to be able to resell them at 800 or 1,000 ariary at the market,” says José, a school supply vendor.
For now, the turnout remains moderate. Merchants mainly welcome customers who buy supplies individually, without having school lists. “Parents with school supply lists generally start coming around mid-August, as the start of the school year approaches. That is when demand increases sharply and the market experiences its greatest influx,” a vendor confides.
While waiting for the peak of activity, merchants hope that the back-to-school shopping period will allow them to compensate for the rise in supply costs, in a context where household purchasing power remains under pressure.
Captured & Published at: 2026-08-07 05:38:43 (Madagascar Local Time EAT)
Original Source: https://www.lexpress.mg/2026/08/fournitures-scolaires-les-prix.html
